Fast food giant McDonald’s plans new restaurant near Northpoint Shopping Centre in Toowoomba

A massive fast food chain has proposed a new restaurant for Toowoomba, with the company estimating it to generate $3.2 million revenue per year once built.

McDonalds has revealed plans for a new restaurant.

Fast food giant McDonald’s has proposed a new restaurant for Toowoomba’s northern suburbs, with the applicant arguing the outlet would generate $3.2 million in revenue per year.

The company has submitted a development application with the Toowoomba Regional Council for a new location next to Northpoint Shopping Centre on Ruthven St.

According to the planning report, the restaurant would be built over four land parcels made up of 3300 sqm, with the houses on the site slated for demolition.

It is also directly opposite Harlaxton State School.

The proposal includes a 400 sqm restaurant, 37 car parks and a dual-lane drive-through section, with access to the site from Jones St.

The submission also featured a number of other reports, including noise impacts, traffic and stormwater.

An attached economic needs assessment report argued there was substantial demand for a McDonald’s in that area.

“The existing food catering offer within the North Toowoomba region is somewhat limited to smaller format tenants with limited seating capacity and only two drive-through facilities,” the report said.

“Red Rooster at Harlaxton and Super Rooster are the only drive-through facilities within the main trade area and both predominantly serve chicken.

“The typical catchment population requirement for McDonald’s stores throughout southeast Queensland is around 20,000 persons.

In outer-suburban areas, however, stores typically require around 10,000–15,000 persons.

“On this basis, a McDonald’s is supportable at Harlaxton, based on a main trade area population of about 15,000.”

“The proposed McDonald’s restaurant is projected to record sales of $3.2 million in 2022/23.

“North Toowoomba area is the only area in the broader Toowoomba region which is not serviced by a McDonald’s drive-through facility.”

Because the development is proposed on land zoned as low-medium residential, the application is “impact-assessable”, with residents able to provide feedback on it at the appropriate time.

The council has yet to respond to the application.