Toowoomba McDonald’s in Harlaxton set for approval amid court appeal
A new McDonald’s looks set to be built opposite a school according to documents, and it’s causing concern among neighbours and families in the immediate area.
Development
Don't miss out on the headlines from Development. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Families who could soon live within metres of a drive-through McDonald’s restaurant are weighing up their futures in the area as the proposal looks set to get approved through the courts.
Harlaxton will almost certainly get the new eatery after documents revealed both McDonald’s and the Toowoomba Regional Council had reached an agreement through mediation back in December, subject to an order from the planning and environment court.
It comes six months after the councillors rejected the proposal on the corner of Ruthven and Jones Streets, opposite Northpoint Shopping Centre on one side and facing Harlaxton State School across the main road.
The grounds for refusal were based on impacts around traffic, acoustics and amenity, and that it would result in “strip development and ad hoc expansion of the existing ‘centre’”.
McDonald’s had first proposed the new location nearly two years ago on land owned by prominent developer Ian Knox.
Mother-of-four Leilani Whitney, who rents a home less than 20 metres from where the drive-through lane would be, said the potential of a new fast food restaurant so close to her children’s school was concerning.
“We were concerned that it was going through because the primary school is there and our children go there, and they walk to and from school every day,” she said.
“It’s dangerous, it will just cause more traffic – we’ve already (seen) a few children have a few incidents crossing the road and cars not watching, so it just adds to it all.
“We would consider moving, because it is dangerous for the kids, but were already considering moving because we rent.”
Pete Carlish, who lives next door to where it will go, told The Chronicle in July last year he was preparing to sell to avoid the traffic right by his house.
As of this week, it is still on the market.
Why ratepayers could be hit twice for multi-billion dollar dam upgrades
A Toowoomba councillor has outlined why ratepayers across the region would be slugged twice for essential dam upgrades, which set to rack up a multi-billion dollar bill across Queensland.
Massive subdivision flagged as farmland in growth area hits market
Developers are circling after a prominent farming family placed a huge parcel of land in a key growth area outside Toowoomba on the market.
Supermarket, cafe planned for growing small town in two-year first
A large vacant parcel in a fast-growing Toowoomba region town could become the community’s most significant new development in years.
CFMEU officials promise to ‘bury’ Labor at upcoming state election
CFMEU officials in regional Queensland have promised to campaign aggressively against Labor at the upcoming state election after the militant union was forced in administration.
Moves made to reform council’s development ‘call in’ process
The Toowoomba council will explore changes to how elected officials can “call in” developments for special meetings, in a move that has been endorsed by a major player.
‘Here to help’: Developers join forces on massive housing estate
A new Toowoomba subdivision now under construction could eventually provide homes for more than 1600 people, as the city continues to battle a housing shortage.