Toowoomba Regional Council questions economic need for new $5m McDonald's eatery

A major fast food chain submitted the application in March for a new drive-through eatery in Harlaxton. Now the council has responded and has raised several issues.

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

The need for a new $5m McDonald’s restaurant in Toowoomba has been questioned by council officers, who have asked the company to provide further economic proof to support its proposal.

McDonald’s Australia submitted the application in March for a new drive-through eatery on the corner of Jones and Ruthven Streets in Harlaxton, opposite Northpoint Shopping Centre.

Landowner Ian Knox has already started clearing the land ahead of project getting the green light.

But in a letter to McDonald’s, planner Richard Green outlined a number of issues the council had with the current application.

The top concern was the project’s inconsistency with the land use, which is zoned as low-medium residential.

While McDonald’s has already submitted an economic needs report, Mr Green said the council would need this reviewed by a third party.

“An external, third-party peer review of this report is required to validate the assumptions and findings presented within the report due to the significant identified conflict with council’s planning scheme,” he wrote.

The request also highlighted issues with the restaurant’s design, stormwater drainage, retaining wall structures, traffic impacts, wastewater and site layouts.

In response, McDonald’s asked for more time to respond to all the matters, requesting an extension until September.

It also submitted new design plans to the council.

The application is impact-assessable, meaning feedback will be sought from residents.