Hungry Jack’s wins State Government’s favour to open restaurant in South Brighton

THOUSANDS of residents signed a petition saying they didn’t want it. The local council knocked it back, so did an Adelaide court. But Hungry Jack’s can build its new store, anyway.

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THOUSANDS of residents signed a petition saying they didn’t want it. The local council knocked it back, so did an Adelaide court — but Hungry Jack’s can build its new store anyway.

In a case of third time lucky, the fast food giant has won approval to build a big new restaurant in South Brighton.

The burger chain had its proposal for a 24-hour restaurant on Brighton Rd knocked back by both Holdfast Bay Council and the Environment, Resources and Development Court last year.

More than 2000 residents also signed a petition against the development.

Locals said they were concerned about traffic issues and the likely smell from the restaurant.

They were also worried about having a fast food outlet so close to a school.

However, under controversial planning reforms brought in last year to fast-track developments worth more than $3 million, proposals can now bypass local authorities and be considered by the State Government-appointed Development Assessment Commission, instead.

Late yesterday the commission approved the development.

It did, however, set down a number of conditions including Hungry Jack’s must install a specialised odour-prevention ventilation system to manage smells.

This must be regularly maintained, the commission said.

Hungry Jack’s proposals for restaurants in Salisbury and St Peters have also been knocked back in recent times.

It is not known if the fast foot giant will seek approval for these planned Adelaide stores through the DAC also.

Projects are filtered and referred to the commission by private sector Coordinator-General Jim Hallion, a former Department of Premier and Cabinet chief executive — critics of the procedure say the Government is trying to bypass communities and centralise power.

The Guardian has previously reported Hungry Jack’s applied to Mr Hallion to have the Brighton Rd proposal looked at in December, and it later referred to the commission.

The South Brighton proposal was originally listed with Holdfast Bay Council as being valued as $1.4m — and therefore not of adequate value to be considered by the DAC.

However, the submission was amended and the project’s value set at more than $3m.

At the time, a Transport Department spokeswoman said the proposal’s new $3.3 million value reflected all costs, such as construction and fitout, and had been verified by a quantity surveyor.

She said the construction phase would create jobs and each Hungry Jack’s restaurant employed about 50 full-time staff, many aged under 21.