Is the Central Coast becoming the fast food capital of NSW?
With at least six fast food chains opening new franchises to add to the dozens already operating, this area is on track to becoming the takeaway capital of NSW.
Central Coast
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The Central Coast has one of the highest concentrations of fast food outlets of any region in the state with concerns the opening of more restaurants will see the area’s bulging waistlines expand at alarming levels.
The major chains, including the likes of McDonalds, KFC, Hungry Jack’s, Domino’s, Subway and others, account for 82 fast food outlets locally with a further 65 independent fish and chip, burger, kebab, pizza, charcoal chicken and pie shops.
That does not include a myriad of other restaurants popular for takeaway such as Chinese, Thai or Indian. Nor does it include fine dining, licensed pubs and clubs, cafes or smaller outlets such as Donut King or Wendy’s.
KFC, Taco Bell and Guzman y Gomez are just a few of the chains that are planning to open, or have recently opened, new restaurants in the area.
Excluding children under the age of four and elderly residents over 85, the coast has at least one fast food outlet for every 2145 residents based on Australian Bureau of Statistics population figures.
Taking just the major fast food chains it works out to be one restaurant for every 3845 people.
However while the majority of residents are on the paunchy side of a healthy weight, it appears the coast’s active lifestyle balances the region’s penchant for fatty foods compared to other regions.
That is according to Healthstats NSW data which shows 62.2 per cent of coast residents aged 16 and older are overweight or obese with a body mass index of 25 or higher.
The data ranks the Central Coast Local Health District (LHD) seventh in NSW behind Western NSW at 71.2 per cent of residents being overweight or obese, Murrumbidgee at 70.3 per cent and the Far West at 68.8 per cent.
The coast also trails behind the Hunter New England LHD where 67.7 per cent of residents are overweight or obese, the Nepean Blue Mountains at 64.5 per cent and the Illawarra Shoalhaven at 63.9 per cent.
The Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD covers the Wollongong, Kiama, Shellharbour and Shoalhaven Local Government Areas (LGAs).
The major fast food chains have 52 outlets in those LGAs, or about one restaurant for every 7,609 residents aged five to 84, which is nearly double the population per restaurant than on the coast.
Or to put it another way, the coast has nearly double the concentration of major fast food restaurants compared with the Illawarra Shoalhaven LHD but nearly two per cent more of our population are in a healthy weight range.
Our region is also attracting new fast food outlets, with Taco Bell keen to open its first Central Coast restaurant, Guzman y Gomez lodging plans to open its second outlet and Mad Mex opening its third outlet in Bateau Bay on Monday.
Central Coast LHD health promotion officer and dietitian Nina Kingon said obesity remained the major cause of preventable chronic diseases such as Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and cancer and can extend to wellbeing and mental health issues.
“Two in three NSW adults are above the healthy weight range and 1 in 5 children are above the healthy weight range,” she said.
“The Central Coast has a slightly higher prevalence than the state average and remains higher than it should be.
“The pandemic has shown that people with obesity or chronic diseases get sicker and can die from infectious diseases.”
Ms Kingon said a healthier food environment needed to be created to give people healthier options “as standard options”.
“There’s a variety of delicious healthy foods for the community rather than fast food outlets,” she said.
“On the coast we have access to healthy produce and local businesses that celebrate that healthy produce. We need to support businesses that offer healthy options for the community.”
Ms Kingon’s five top tips for eating fast food include:
■ Choose foods and meal options close to their natural forms for example grilled meats;
■ Be mindful of portion sizes;
■ Choose water as a drink with a 375ml soft drink having 10 teaspoons of sugar;
■ Choose options on the menu such as fresh fruit and salad options;
■ Eat mindfully without distractions.
Here’s a look at the recently or soon to be opened fast food joints on the coast:
Mad Mex, Bateau Bay
Mad Mex officially opened its doors on Monday at Bateau Bay Square.
The restaurant is the largest Mad Mex outlet on the coast, with others at Erina Fair and Westfield Tuggerah.
The business is known for its fresh and fast Mexican cuisine from tacos and burritos to nachos and grande melts.
Taco Bell, Lisarow
Plans are in the pipeline for the Central Coast’s first Taco Bell.
The Mexican fast food chain has lodged plans to open a restaurant at the Lisarow Plaza on Parsons Rd.
The proposal, which is currently on public exhibition, is valued at $1.9m.
Taco Bell is planning to construct its restaurant at the overflow carpark between the Coles and Woolworths carparks with seating for 40 people.
It will also include a carpark for six vehicles, drive-through facility and loading dock. Trading hours would be seven days 10am to 10pm and 10am to 11pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
Taco Bell has 23 locations throughout Australia in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and Western Australia. There are six restaurants in NSW at Albion Park, Tamworth, Ballina, Blacktown, Greensquare and Jesmond.
KFC, Tuggerah
Plans have been lodged for a new KFC along with a 7-Eleven next to Mariners Centre of Excellence in Tuggerah.
Moore Projects Pty Ltd has lodged plans for the development on the corner of Wyong Rd and Ibis Rd.
The plans for the KFC include a 21-seat restaurant and drive through, 11 parking spaces, a 25000L rainwater tank to be used for the toilets and a 10m tall pole with a 2m KFC branded bucket at the top.
Its proposed opening hours are 10am-10pm Sunday to Thursday and 10am-11pm on Friday and Saturday.
Guzman y Gomez, Tuggerah
Popular Mexican fast food chain Guzman Y Gomez is poised to open its second restaurant on the Central Coast in Tuggerah.
A $1.7 million development application (DA) has been lodged with Central Coast Council to subdivide the Hungry Jack’s site on Anzac Rd, Tuggerah, and construct a Guzman Y Gomez restaurant in the south east corner.
The development will include a 54-seat restaurant — 32 seats inside and 22 outside — and a two-lane drive through with dual order points.
The existing Hungry Jack’s restaurant will remain but its drive-through will be upgraded to two lanes with dual ordering points along with some changes to its signage and parking.
Under the plans the Guzman Y Gomez restaurant will be open 24-hours a day with 60 staff including three managers and a combination of full time, part time and causal staff.
Hungry Jack’s, West Gosford
Hungry Jack’s opened another outlet this year as part of the upgrade of West Gosford Shopping Centre.
Construction saw the removal of the Return and Earn facility to make way for construction of the popular fast food burger joint.
The $2.2m upgrade of the shopping centre is well and truly progressing and will include a new facade for Coles, along with a childcare centre, new mall, outdoor area and office spaces.
Mintus Properties Pty Ltd bought the run down property in June 2019 and have been working hard on the development.
Heatherbrae Pies, Ourimbah
Work is well underway on the new Heatherbrae Pies outlet at Ourimbah.
The restaurant is being constructed along the Pacific Highway with an opening timeline of early 2022.
It has been a long journey for the baking gurus who already have outlets at Heatherbrae and Sutton Forest.
They initially floated an Ourimbah restaurant back in 2011 after receiving approval from the former Wyong Council.
At the time owner Russell Cox said he couldn’t let McDonald’s and Burger King dominate the fast food market.
“We’ve shown at Heatherbrae how popular the Aussie meat pie can be and we want to repeat that success here on the Central Coast,” he said.
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