New Toowoomba McDonald’s restaurant rejected by council, project likely heading to planning and environment court

One of the world’s biggest companies has been rejected for a new Toowoomba outlet. But it could still be approved, with council needing to spend ratepayer money in court defending its vote.

New artist designs for the proposed McDonald's restaurant on Ruthven Street in Harlaxton.

Pete Carlish has lived in his Ruthven Street home for more than a quarter of a century — but now he’s selling up to avoid sleeping next to the drive-through lane of a fast-food giant.

Mr Carlish and his wife Karen have put their house on the market, hoping to move before a McDonald’s is built on the corner of Ruthven and Jones Street.

This is despite the Toowoomba Regional Council sensationally rejecting the proposed eatery at a special meeting this week.

SELLING UP: Long-term Harlaxton resident Pete Carlish is selling his Ruthven Street property of 26 years to avoid living next to a McDonald's, saying the Toowoomba Regional Council's rejection of the new drive-through restaurant won't stop it.

Mr Carlish said the 24-hour, seven-day restaurant would almost certainly be approved, if not through the council then through the courts.

“Of course they will, they don’t take away four houses for nothing – money talks,” he said, referring the removal of residential homes on the subject land by owner Ian Knox.

Councillor Bill Cahill. Photo Bev Lacey

Wednesday’s meeting saw the eight present councillors split 4-4 on whether to reject the project, with acting chair Bill Cahill casting the deciding vote. Mayor Paul Antonio and Councillor Megan O’Hara Sullivan were away, while Councillor Rebecca Vonhoff removed herself on conflict-of-interest grounds.

Councillors Cahill, Carol Taylor, Nancy Sommerfield and Kerry Shine voted to reject it based on impacts around traffic, acoustics and amenity, and that it would result in “strip development and ad hoc expansion of the existing ‘centre’”.

Developer Ian Knox.

The project was recommended for approval by independent town planners Reel Planning Pty Ltd.

Mr Knox called the vote “puzzling”, saying it would only result in a planning and environment court case that he believed the council would lose.

“I’m a bit puzzled why councillors who have no professional expertise have rejected it when all the other assessment levels were met,” he said.

“The next step is to take it to the planning and environment court and waste more ratepayers’ money.

“I’m very certain that’s what (McDonald’s) are going to do — they’ve invested considerable funds into this, and they have no intention of walking away.”

The McDonald’s could follow other projects like the service station at Crows Nest, which was rejected at a meeting but eventually approved in court.

Councillor Bill Cahill was contacted for comment.