Hervey Bay to get its third McDonald’s at Drury Lane development
Plans for a new McDonald’s, tavern and shops in a part of Hervey Bay where the population is expected to double can be revealed. SEE THE PLANS.
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A new McDonald’s is coming to Hervey Bay’s fast-growing western fringe after a commercial complex in the Dundowran Industrial Park got fresh council ticks.
It’s understood the development at the corner of Drury Lane and Pialba Burrum Heads Rd is likely to be known as BayWest Town Centre.
Development permits were already in place for two fast food outlets, a tavern, supermarket and specialty shops, health services precinct, service station and childcare centre.
Just before Christmas however, a request for “minor changes” to all six permits (eg slight altering of dimensions, boundaries and carparking spaces) was submitted to the council by town planning firm Tract Consultants on behalf of Cinque Developments No 2 Pty Ltd.
The revised plans also revealed art impressions for McDonald’s which had previously only been rumoured to be a likely tenant.
“Since the original development applications were lodged, commercial negotiations with potential and interested tenants have continued and tenancy requirements are required to be updated to meet national brand standards and retail offering expectations for preferred tenants,” the application explained.
The council confirmed on Wednesday it has since approved the changes and the development had the green light to go ahead.
Concept images submitted as part of the application documents show the scale of the project including the proposed tavern, which would include indoor and outdoor dining, a functions room, Keno and gaming area.
According to the planning documents, approval was given for the project “notwithstanding” conflicts with the medium impact industry zone, because the application was able to be supported by “higher order provisions within the settlement pattern theme” of the western suburbs as long as “reasonable and relevant” conditions were complied with.
The documents also pointed to projected population growth figures which showed the suburbs of Dundowran Beach and Craignish alone were expected to double by 2036 to more than 9000 people driven by delivery of major projects such as the Dundowran Beach QM properties development of 2000 lots on at the corner of Ansons Road and Pialba Burrum Heads Road and a further 985 lots close by.
Construction is expected to begin in 2025.
The new McDonald’s will be the third for Hervey Bay which has two others at opposite ends of Boat Harbour Drive at Pialba and Urangan.
The fast-food giant has been steadily increasing its presence in the Wide Bay in recent years.
In Maryborough, the city’s second McDonald’s is slated for the Caltex and Oliver’s site on the Bruce Hwy.
Gympie got its second McDonald’s when the Matilda service centre was redeveloped on the Old Bruce Hwy in late 2020.
Bundaberg has three McDonald’s and heated debate is currently underway about plans for a fourth at Kepnock.
A McDonald’s is also located at Childers on the highway between the Fraser Coast and Bundaberg.
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