New McDonald’s restaurant to be built at Discovery Drive in Helensvale

Council is set to approve the building of a new McDonald’s restaurant on a prominent Gold Coast site despite concerns from locals about traffic in the area. See what’s planned.

Council is poised to grant permission for a new McDonald’s drive through outlet on the site of a former BP service station in Helensvale.

Division 2 councillor William Owen-Jones said city officers had on Friday advised they intended to approve a development application for the restaurant, which is to be located near the corner of Discovery Drive and the Gold Coast Highway.

“Unfortunately the site has been looking pretty grim over the last several months, and I hope works – and new service station tenant – start sooner rather than later,” Cr Owen Jones said.

Plans for a new McDonald's restaurant at Discovery Drive in Helensvale.

It is also proposed a United service station will be built at the site, which has lain dormant since the BP station closed last year.

The new restaurant will feature both drive through and dine in areas, a children’s playground and parking for 27 vehicles.

The location of the proposed new restaurant at Discovery Drive in Helensvale.

The proposal has attracted some criticism from local residents, with a number of people raising concerns about traffic accessing the site, which is across the road from a fire station.

“Absolutely ridiculous. We don’t need fast food there, the traffic is heavy enough as it is,” one said.

“This is disappointing,” another resident wrote. “Traffic is an issue and really, do we need another fast food restaurant in our suburb? Nice entry to Helensvale.”

The restaurant is to be built on the site of a former BP service station. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

However consultants acting on behalf of the proponents in their submission to council stated that the restaurant, which it was estimated would generate 180 vehicle trips per peak hour, would result in a “relatively low” increase in traffic.

Parking for 27 vehicles is to be provided at the development.

The new restaurant, when built, will be the 36th McDonald’s on the Gold Coast and the third in Helensvale.

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