Wednesday, 29 August, 2018
Pakenham
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Losing the Simplot PAGE 3
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Cardinia's worst road?
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Property Lift out
Cheap fuel boom By Kyra Gillespie
Clough brothers Zac, Kane and Paul with Cr Graeme Moore and Shell (Vivid Energy) Regional Operation Manager Terry Kelly. 184611 Pictures: KYRA GILLESPIE
"It was very expensive to build, but I think it will pay off in the long run," he said. "Giving our customers an outlet back onto the freeway is going to make it a lot easier for them, especially for our truckies who are
strapped for time. "We've got customers who have been filling up here all their life. We started selling fuel here in 1974 and had people coming here ever since."
Welcoming Dr Prachi Prakash to Pakenham Dental Surgery Call us today to book an appointment 3/61-63 Main Street, Pakenham 5941 1214 www.pakenhamdental.com.au
The markdown caused a gridlock. 184611 When their access was terminated in 2007, the family-run business arranged to redevelop the road with VicRoads and Cardinia Shire. Continued on page 2
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Cr Graeme Moore tests out the new road. 184611
The Clough family has officially reinstated the highway access to their family-owned service station. 184611
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The Clough family has officially reinstated the highway access to their family-owned service station, marking the end of a lengthy battle with contending fuel companies who tried to stamp them out of existence. On Monday 27 August an official ribbon cutting saw Clough brothers Paul, Kane and Zac take the first test drive on the new access ramp. To mark the monumental occasion, the servo offered unleaded fuel at just 99.9 cents a litre. The markdown garnered a colossal response from the community, with hundreds of cars banked up along the old highway in the hopes of scoring a cheap refill. Known for its cheap fuel and friendly service, the popular service station had its access cut off when the Pakenham Bypass opened over a decade ago. The Clough family fought the access termination for years and were only given the allclear to sign with Drouin-based contractors A1 Group to carry out the works at the start of this year. The project took around 6-8 months to complete. "It's amazing to have this back after being cut off for so long," Zac Clough said. "It's been a long, hard journey for the business, which we couldn't have survived without the support of our loyal customers who stood by us all these years. "It's good to see it opened not just for the service station, but for our customers too." The Clough family fought various authorities to have the access restored since their business was left stranded in 2007, headed by passionate founder Bruce Clough, who unfortunately passed away before seeing the road reinstated. "Dad really pushed to make this happen, so it's good to be able to finish it for him." In that time the car dealership moved from the Nar Nar Goon site to the South East Business Park in Pakenham and changed its name from Bruce Clough Mazda to Pakenham Mazda. The service station remains in operation on the old site. Eldest son Paul Clough said that while the developer-funded road cost a fortune, it was a worthwhile investment.