THE New South Wales Land and Environment Court has approved a service station to be built on Tweed Coast Rd as part of the Kings Forest development.

The court upheld an appeal by Kings Forest Leda Developments against the NSW Department of Planning and Environment over its original decision to reject the modification of the major project last April.

The new modifications will replace the original 2000sqm floor space approval for a rural supplies building and landscaping with the construction of 998sqm of floorspace for a service station, food and drink premises, including car parks and landscaping.

But Tweed Coast Rd residents are angry at the decision to approve the service station, which will be built opposite Old Bogangar Rd, between the main road and Cudgen Creek.

Neighbouring resident Donna Smith said she was "bitterly disappointed” the court overturned the Department of Planning and Environment's original decision.

"We're all very devastated,” Ms Smith said.

"From all their reasons for the refusal, it now seems to be quite okay for a rural supplies building to become a service station.”

Regardless of the increased traffic and noise associated with a service station, Ms Smith said she was most concerned about the surrounding wildlife.

"The wildlife that is here, and there are so many endangered species that are in the threatened wetland and the adjoining properties, it means the state has no consideration for conservation of wildlife,” shesaid.

"They will probably say the service station is fenced but koalas don't know that they shouldn't go onto that property.

"I think the case is lost and I think the creek is lost.”

Ms Smith said she believed the service station would detract from the area.

"(Tweed Coast Rd) is the entrance way, the green belt from the farming land, Cudgen Nature Reserve and Tweed Coast is trying to entice rich tourists to Halcyon House,” Ms Smith said.

"We say we want tourist dollars and then we'll put something like that up because it'll give six jobs.”

A Leda spokesperson said it was reviewing the decision and would comment once completed.