Mackay council and locals oppose McDonalds’ push for Sarina restaurant

A town of more than 11,000 people will still have to drive 30 minutes for their next Maccas run after a regional council was not Mcloving the restaurant’s new planned location.

Mackay Regional Council, in its latest decision, has said it would likely refuse the proposal to build a new McDonalds restaurant at 93 to 99 Broad St, because the location was too far from the town centre and public transport, and thus in conflict with the planning scheme. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

A town of more than 11,000 people will still have to drive half an hour for their next golden arches fix after a council determined it was not Mcloving the restaurant’s planned location.

An initial plan to build the fast food restaurant one block back from Sarina’s main strip was met with broad resistance, while residents believe it could result in a traffic jam for devourers of the Big Mac.

Mackay Regional Council, in its latest decision, has said it would likely refuse the proposal to build a new McDonalds restaurant at 93 to 99 Broad St, because the location was too far from the town centre and public transport, and thus in conflict with the planning scheme.

Sarina mum Wendy Spark said while the roundabout-adjacent location on the Bruce Highway would create a “traffic nightmare”, the council had to “be joking” if it thought the site was too far out of town.

“Sarina’s like a two street town, basically … people don’t want to walk one block, for god’s sake,” Ms Spark said.

“I’m not fond of Maccas anyway, but they’ve got to put it somewhere, sometime or another in Sarina.

“IGA took about 15 years to actually get here, the Sarina Beach shopping centre – it was in the pipeline for about 15 years.

“Nothing happens quickly in Sarina.”

Plans for a McDonalds in Sarina at 93, 95, 97, and 99 Broad St were submitted on November 30, 2023. Photo: Contributed

Mackay Regional Council in January told McDonalds if it wished to push ahead with the same address, it should address three requests – including justifying why it could not build within the Major Centre Zone – but even then “a refusal will still be recommended”.

The Daily Mercury asked McDonalds Australia whether it still intended to pursue the same location and a spokeswoman responded the company was working through the development approval process.

“McDonald’s Australia is focused on opening new restaurants in residential growth corridors that are close to transport and infrastructure in both metropolitan and regional areas,” the spokeswoman said.

“If approved, the (Sarina) restaurant will play an active role in the community … (it) will inject over $8 million into the local economy and create 100 jobs during construction, as well as a further 120 jobs once operational in crew, barista, management and maintenance roles.

“Pending approval, it will be fitted with modern decor and feature a McCafé, dual lane drive thru, dedicated partner delivery room and a PlayPlace for customers to enjoy.”

Plans for a McDonalds in Sarina at 93, 95, 97, and 99 Broad St were submitted on November 30, 2023. Photo: Contributed

McDonalds, which had until April to respond to the council, now has until at least July 9 after the State Assessment and Referral Agency granted its extensions to supply information about the Bruce Highway.

Meanwhile Sentinel Property Group CEO Warren Ebert has invited McDonalds to consider building its restaurant near the Sarina Showgrounds should it be unable to proceed with its current choice of location.

Sentinel, which owns Caneland Central and other major Mackay region commercial assets, owns 695,000sq m of land adjoining the Bruce Highway, Brooks and Sarina Beach Rds in Sarina.

The company has an approved master plan to build about 450 residential lots on the property and this month received the green light from the council to build a commercial centre.

Stage 1 of the centre includes a 24/7 takeaway and service station with following stages to include a car wash, shops, a medical centre, and an emergency services precinct.

The Daily Mercury asked McDonalds what it thought about Sentinel’s suggestion but it did not respond to the question.

The council stated it could not comment on McDonalds’ Sarina application as it was currently in the assessment process.

What you said on Facebook about having McDonalds in Sarina:

Rebekah Place: “This will be great for jobs in Sarina for our kids and adults without access to Mackay! Its about time.”

Leanne Giblett: “People are complaining about it. Yet they winge [sic] we only have two takeaway shops in our town, both fish and chip shops … I personally would prefer a Red Rooster. But I’ll take a mac’s hopefully it will pave they [sic] for other franchisees.”

Leanne Wilson-Spencer: “Finally, been saying for years that Sarina need a Maccas or similar for more job opportunities in the area.”

Janine Matthews: “We need to have healthy food for our children because there is to [sic] much junk food in our diet.”

Kerry Brady-De Costa: “I hope not. It will hurt our small local cafes and restaurants. If anything I’d rather a Ma’s Pizza Kitchen in Sarina or a Noodle Sushi Paradise.”

Aneurin Williams: “So many more mobile speed cameras around the nation to prevent loss of lives, yeah right meanwhile so many fast food stores being approved. Biggest killer in Australia is our dietary issues. Please explain.”

Michael Bartlett: “Be good for the younger ones for work opportunities.”

Quintin Nielsen: “Good to have a few extra jobs, and a good distance, I’ll have finished my Mackay McDonald’s coffee when heading south.”

Brendan Hoban: “No one needs more fast food places.”

Mika Van Gogh: “Good I’m over the same foods in this town. Everyone says they want to support small businesses but yet when they come through into Sarina they always end up leaving due to hardly anyone actually buying anything but taking a photo of a toad.”

Bec Hughes: “Everyone was up in arms when they added Target (now K-Hub) to Sarina and now it is a staple of the town. As a community we need to embrace change because not all change is bad.”

Ray Smith: “Need a new council or this place goes backwards …!!”

Lance Hacker: “They don’t want it or need it. Plenty of other options.”

Brendan N Kelly-anne Burley: “Sarina has no kid friendly places to eat out, not saying it’s the best option but if they have a playground the parents get some sorta time to relax and kids have a play.”

Debbie Nielsen: “Well I hope it goes ahead I think it’s a great opportunity and especially if you want something to eat after 7pm at night when the takeaways and pubs stop cooking.”

Chelsea Cooper: “Yes, so over our council being a bloody road block. It’s about time Sarina had some progress.”

Janet Conrad: “NO! It’s not real food and Sarina needs to stay the way it is, a beautiful quiet country town where people know each other. Maccas is an unsightly conglomerate. BTW I don’t like Maccas lol.”