Guzman y Gomez plans to open third drive-through outlet in Redland on busy Shore St West and Wellington St roundabout
A former IGA site, on one of the most dangerous roundabouts in Redland, is set to be converted into a drive-through fast food outlet for a Mexican restaurant chain, despite local protests.
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A former IGA site, on one of the most dangerous roundabouts in Redland, is set to be converted into a drive-through fast food outlet for a Mexican restaurant chain, despite local protests.
Guzman y Gomez plans to open its third drive-through outlet in Ormiston on the busy Shore St West and Wellington St roundabout.
Although no deaths have been recorded at the spot, politicians have promised since 2016 to get lights installed at the dangerous roundabout, one of the busiest south of Brisbane, connecting southern Redlands, Cleveland and Ormiston.
Plans submitted to Redland City Council for approval show the developer would create the drive-through by “punching” holes through walls in the existing building, previously a gourmet IGA, which moved into the former Harvey Norman premises a year ago.
Under Redland council rules, the site is zoned for mixed use, which allows a restaurant, but plans for the drive through still need council consent.
The drive-through would result in the loss of eight carparking spaces at the centre but a town planning report by Vitality, said the overall development would still meet the minimum requirement of 187 carparking spaces.
“We note that the approved plans showed that the approved development provided 207 on-site carparking spaces,” the Vitality report said.
“The reduction in the number of carparking spaces would still result in compliance … and there would also be a reduction in overall gross floor area of approximately 400 sqm.”
However, along with the loss of carparks, the queuing bay for the drive-through would only cater for eight cars, not 10 as stipulated by the Redland Planning Scheme.
A traffic impact assessment, completed by Fernway Engineering in July, said the drive-through would safely be able to operate without any queue “spill outs” during the anticipated worst-case peak-hour periods.
“In the case where order fulfilment is delayed, the drivers can be directed to park within the two allocated waiting bays,” the report said.
“We note that the Redland Planning Scheme advises that where food and drink outlets have a drive-through facility, queuing for a minimum of 10 vehicles measured from the order point is provided.
“The proposed drive-through provides queuing for eight vehicles from the order point clear of any carparking spaces.”
Plans also showed the existing driveways on Shore St West and the two on Wellington St would not change with town planners Vitality describing them as “satisfactory”.
Residents were not so sure.
Grant Booth said cars leaving the complex should be barred from turning right on to Wellington St and instead should have to use a small roundabout on Freeth St.
“A dual entrance or exit should be located in the middle of the complex and the other two entrances and exits should be closed so there is no right turn into Wellington St when leaving the car park,” he said.
“Traffic wanting to go south should have to go around the roundabout on Wellington and Freeth Street to make the turn to the south.”
Designs are with the council for assessment but there will be no public consultation.
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Originally published as Guzman y Gomez plans to open third drive-through outlet in Redland on busy Shore St West and Wellington St roundabout
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