Toowoomba council approves new Guzman Y Gomez drive-through restaurant near Wilsonton Shopping Centre on Bridge Street

A controversial fast-food outlet has been given the green light, despite opposition from neighbouring residents who called the concept “untenable”. Find out why it was approved here:

Toowoomba’s largest fast food precinct will expand even more after the council voted to approve a new Guzman Y Gomez drive-through restaurant in Wilsonton.

The new seven-day eatery on the corner of Bridge Street and Richmond Drive was given the green light by councillors at Wednesday’s special meeting despite opposition from landholders.

Originally approved in 2018 without a drive-through lane, developer FKG Group brought forward new plans after acquiring the neighbouring residential property to the north and using part of the land to cater for the vehicle movements.

The site is part of a massive fast-food precinct with nine other major franchises that generated $55m worth of sales in 2021 alone.

Council planning officer Krys Den Hertog recommended approval, saying the development could be met to comply with the planning scheme through numerous conditions.

But neighbouring landholder Tony Faraker, who owns a series of affordable pensioner units to the west of the site, said the project would seriously impact the amenity of residents.

“The main concerns are noise, smell and light — the light is probably not such a huge issue, but noise and smell permeate through everything,” he said.

“Most of my tenants are elderly people, these units are on the lower end of the market – they’re nice but they’re not flash.

“You can see the gap between where this is proposed and the units (is 5m).

“If you’ve got smell permeating every day of the year, it would be nauseating for anyone who doesn’t like it.

“I find it untenable that this could be accepted.”

In response, town planner for the applicant James Juhasz said all impacts would be mitigated through conditions.

Mr Den Hertog told councillors the applicant had indicated a second drive-through eatery could be proposed at the northern end of the site in the future, using the approved development’s easement on Richmond Drive and carparking.

Councillor Carol Taylor suggested this could lead to “strip development” up Richmond Drive.

“It doesn’t fit nicely and the shopping centre has unlimited food options already,” she said.

“I guess we never have enough fast food outlets, but a road is a good separation.

“To me, that is a strip development and nothing you say is going to change an ordinary person’s mind.”

Mr Den Hertog said it wouldn’t be a strip development due to the shared easement and carparking, noting strip developments normally all have their own access points and parks.

The development was approved unanimously; mayor Paul Antonio and councillors Bill Cahill and Tim McMahon were absent from the meeting.

EARLIER: NEW DRIVE-THROUGH OUTLET FACES VOTE

A proposal for a national chain’s newest Toowoomba restaurant by one of the city’s largest companies will be decided by the council at a meeting this week.

FK Gardner and Sons, also known as FKG Group, put forward plans in February for a new Guzman Y Gomez drive-through eatery on the corner of Bridge Street and Richmond Drive in Wilsonton.

According to the council’s assessment report, the restaurant operate from 7am to 10pm every day and feature 10 car parks.

The site is not far from the newly-redeveloped Wilsonton Shopping Centre and part of a massive fast-food precinct that generated $55m worth of sales in 2021 alone.

Concept art for the new Toowoomba Guzman Y Gomez drive-through Mexican restaurant, which has been proposed for a site on Bridge Street in Wilsonton.

This would be the Guzman Y Gomez’s third outlet in Toowoomba and the eatery would be the 10th major fast food location within the area around the shopping centre.

The matter will head to council’s special meeting on Wednesday, where planner Geoff Reid will recommend its approval subject to more than 120 conditions.

Two submissions were received against the proposal, citing issues with economic and planning need and impacts on the amenity of neighbouring residents.

One submitter has withdrew their complaint after changes were made to the landscaping of the site.

In response, Mr Reid said in his assessment report that the eatery’s economic impact was “below the turnover threshold analysts commonly cite as cause for concern”.

“It is considered that the proposal will provide a community benefit, in particular the proposed development will service a local need, will not detract from the viability of the adjoining centre and will contribute to new employment opportunities in the catchment,” he wrote.

Mr Reid also noted the site had been used for non-residential purposes for more than 40 years.

“As such the amenity expectations of the surrounding landowners have been assessed in the context of historical and the ongoing and future potential commercial use of the land,” he wrote.

The special meeting will be held on Wednesday from 2pm at City Hall.