Mackay Regional Council vote against Sarina McDonalds refusal
Multinational chain McDonald’s will have another chance at staking its claim on Sarina’s main strip after a council officer’s recommendation was voted down.
Mackay Regional Council voted against a recommendation from a council officer to refuse the construction of Sarina’s first McDonald’s, despite concerns from impacted neighbours.
The proposal to build a single-storey fast-food franchise on a 4200sq m residential block at 93-99 Broad St was rejected by council planners for a second time in September.
However, in the ordinary meeting on Wednesday, October 29, all but three councillors voted against the recommendations.
Mayor Greg Williamson was one who disagreed the project would impact traffic congestion and said it could solve pedestrian access along the Sarina Beach Rd roundabout.
“TMR (Traffic and Main Roads) had no objections to this being on the main road,” Mr Williamson said.
“I could see no reason why we would refuse it.” he said, going on to say the majority of the 12,000 people in Sarina wanted a fast-food outlet like this.
Mackay McDonald’s business owner Nikki Ramsay and development manager Tom Bissett both spoke to councillors ahead of the decision, saying the store would bring up to 120 local jobs to Sarina through both the construction and operational stages.
Six submissions were presented to council ahead of the officer’s decisions, some of which came from neighbours of the proposed site.
They cited concerns the plan was inconsistent with the residential zoning, pedestrian access to the site would pose risks to school children, the outlet would cause undue impact to neighbours, the lack of need for the restaurant, and the impact of traffic to the main road.
Councillor Marty Bella joined Cr Heath Patton and Cr Namarca Corowa in supporting the council officer’s recommendation, saying the location would devalue neighbouring properties and pose risks to children using the busy main road at night.
“The thought of kids going around that street is terrifying,” Cr Bella said.
“It does not protect the rights of the people that live there when there is an alternative.”
Deputy Mayor Karen May said it was unfair to say there was other land available in Sarina given one of the only other options the fast-food giant had was a commercial precinct which had still not been activated for a number of years.
A procedural motion was declared with councillors set to make a final decision on the application on Wednesday, November 12.
Mackay Regional Council first denied McDonald’s application in 2024 citing the proposal not only conflicted with the area’s zoning as medium density residential but it also misaligned with the planning scheme policy.
The plan features an indoor playground, a dual-lane drive-through and 12m high golden arch signage.
Urbis re-lodged a revised application in August this year arguing that the existing road could adequately cater for the development.
“It will provide economic benefits for the region and revitalise a currently underutilised site, burdened by a low standard of amenity and improving the existing character of the site,” Urbis wrote in an application letter to council.
In response, Mackay Regional Council officers said attempts to address noise concerns with 3.5 and 3.6m acoustic barriers wouldn’t be “sympathetic to the residential amenity of the area and significantly higher than that expected for a fence in a residential zone”.
Cane farm tourism hub given council help
Mackay Regional Council has voted to approve a construction fee discount for the expansion of a farm stay tourism hub north of the city.
Oh Deer Farm Stay in Calen has operated accommodation facilities on its existing cane farm since 2017 and offered farm tours since 2021.
Owners Dale and Karinda Anderson now plan to build 20 new campsites for tent and caravan use, along with on-site wastewater treatment and cooking facilities.
Mackay Regional Council approved the plans in July and agreed to fund all infrastructure charges, totalling $130,470, as part of the council’s Facilitating Development Plan.
The policy, which came into effect on February 3, seeks to attract investment in developments to stimulate growth diversify and add value to the region.
Council officers recommended the concessions be passed through the council, saying short-stay accommodation for tourists promoted bigger numbers to the region provided educational opportunities and gave the farmers another form of revenue.
This is one of several projects councillors decided to fund. These include the construction of a 28-storey residential block near the Mater Hospital that will eventually house healthcare workers. Also funded are the single-storey three-bedroom homes at 1-7 Mercy Dr, North Mackay, which will cost the council up to $930,221 if accepted and is expected to be in use by late 2026.
Beachside suburb enters next stages
Mackay Regional Council has granted developer Aldev Holdings concessions for the next stage of its 10 three-bedroom apartment block in East Mackay.
Aldev Holdings received approval to build units, houses and townhouses at 8 Petrie St as part of The Beach housing development in 2013.
By 2021, 14 houses were delivered as part of Stage 1. In February 2025, the developer applied to alter its development application, scaling down the proposed development of 12 townhouses in Stage 2 to 10 townhouses.
Aldev Holdings asked the council to fund 100 per cent of the $344,526 infrastructure charges as part of the Facilitating Development Policy.
Council officers found the request was in line with its strategy to increase economic output and assist in easing the region’s housing shortage.
