Manly Vale: McDonald’s backs down on 24/7 outlet plan after massive community pushback

Concerns flagged by more than 600 locals about anti-social behaviour, gridlocked traffic and late night noise has prompted Maccas’ to rethink its plans for a new 24/7 Sydney drive-thru restaurant.

An artist's impression of the revised plans for the proposed McDonald's restaurant at Manly Vale. The fast food giant has revised plans to make it a 24-hour outlet after more than 600 complaints were received by Northern Beaches Council. Picture: Webber Architects

McDonald’s has revised its plans for a 24/7 restaurant on the northern beaches after it was inundated with more than 600 complaints from locals.

After concerns were raised about potential late night hoon behaviour and noise, the fast food giant is now proposing opening the outlet at Manly Vale from 5am to midnight.

And it will reduce the size of its distinctive “Golden Arches” signage as well as contribute to building a nearby roundabout to help ease traffic congestion.

McDonald’s had lodged $4m plans with Northern Beaches Council in February for a drive-through outlet at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd.

When the plans went for public feedback, locals submitted that the increased traffic would add to road delays already caused by customers leaving and entering the nearby Woolworths, Aldi, Bunnings, Harvey Norman and Bing Lee stores.

The Seven Miles Coffee Roasters plant and cafe at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, Manly Vale, is the site of the proposed McDonald’s outlet.

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.

An artist's impression of the original proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant Manly Vale. The signage has now been reduced. Picture: Webber Architects

A community petition calling on planning officials to “Say NO” to McDonald’s was circulated and attracted more than 1000 signatures.

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

“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.

Sharyn Gillings was concerned with the social impact.

An artist's impression of the proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant at Manly Vale. 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 letter to the council about the revised plans, a McDonald’s planning consultant stated that it could change the opening hours to 5am to midnight.

“These operating hours seek to minimise any crime or anti-social behaviour while also providing food and drink services for tradesmen and shift workers outside of typical trading and daytime hours,” the letter stated.

“The proposed flagpoles, banner and blade wall sign have been removed from the proposed signage scheme. The proposed pylon sign has also been reduced in size.”

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 map showing the location of a proposed McDonald's fast food restaurant at the corner of Rosebery St and Kenneth Rd, Manly Vale

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

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.

In a statement, McDonald’s Australia said it had been part of northern beaches communities’ since 1980 and would listen and respond to public feedback.

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

“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.”

The revised DA is now open for public submissions.

Originally published as Manly Vale: McDonald’s backs down on 24/7 outlet plan after massive community pushback