McDonald’s faces community resistance over planned 24/7 northern beaches’ outlet

Grid-locked traffic, noise pollution, anti-social behaviour and laundry smelling like fried food are among objections raised by locals over a proposed new Maccas in their neighbourhood.

An artist's impression of a proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant, with drive-through facility, proposed at Manly Vale. Picture: Webber Architects

A bid by a fast food giant to build a new 24/7 restaurant at a notoriously busy northern beaches traffic hotspot has sparked community backlash.

McDonald’s has lodged plans with Northern Beaches Council for a drive-through outlet at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, on the border of Balgowlah and Manly Vale.

But locals fear the increased traffic will add to road delays already caused by customers leaving and entering the nearby Woolworths, Aldi, Bunnings, Harvey Norman and Bing Lee stores.

The site, which is now occupied by Seven Miles Coffee Roasters plant, head office and cafe, is also opposite the B-line commuter carpark in Kenneth Rd and close to a KFC outlet on nearby Condamine St.

Rosebery St, which runs between Balgowlah and Manly Vale, is regularly hit with traffic congestion on weekends due to the supermarkets, fitness centres and surrounding furniture and homewares shops and cafes.

The Seven Miles Coffee Roasters plant and cafe at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, Balgowlah.

A community petition calling on planning officials to “Say NO” to McDonald’s is already circulating and has attracted more than 1000 signatures.

The council has also asked for public submissions to the DA, with 40 responses so far.

Petition creator Sarah Garland said the development would add more odours, litter, noise pollution, rodents and traffic congestion to the area.

An artist's impression of a proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant, with drive-through facility, at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, Balgowlah. Picture: Webber Architects

“We are calling for a rejection of the application … and to consider the cumulative impact of fast-food outlets on our neighbourhood’s environment and character,” she said.

Danielle Amato, of Manly Vale, said she was “appalled” at the plan.

“As any local would know, Rosebery Street is a traffic nightmare on most days especially at peak hour,” Ms Amato’s submission to council read.

Alexandra O’Neill wrote that she did not want her “neighbourhood to be marred by a fluorescent, 24-hour, air-quality-reducing fast-food chain”.

A diagram of a proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant, with drive-through facility, at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, Balgowlah. Picture: Webber Architects

“I do not want the laundry I hang on the balcony to smell like fried food,” she said.

“We have one five mins down the road already, in an industrial area, where it belongs.”

There are McDonalds outlets already operating at Westfield Warringah Mall, about 2kms away, and a 24 hour restaurant in the nearby Brookvale industrial precinct. There are other Maccas restaurants across the northern beaches at Beacon Hill, Frenchs Forest and Warriewood.

Sharyn Gillings was concerned with the social impact.

Locals have expressed concerns over traffic, noise and anti-social behaviour. Picture: Webber Architects

“It is a widely publicised fact of groups of youths (gangs) gather at fast-food venues at all hours of the night creating unacceptable noise, anti-social behaviour including burnouts on leaving the premises,” she said.

In a statement, McDonald’s Australia said it had been part of northern beaches communities’ since 1980.

“We are very excited by this opportunity to join the Manly Vale community as a local employer, and a business committed to working with the community to support local causes and groups,” the statement read.

“If approved, a Maccas in Manly Vale will create more than 100 new local jobs and represents an investment of more than $3.9m into the community.

“We’ll continue to work through the development application process with the Northern Beaches Council, outlining the measures we have proactively included to mitigate the impact of traffic, noise and waste, and in listening and responding to feedback.”