Sarina McDonalds likely to be refused by Mackay Regional Council

The golden arches will not be shining its beckoning light for Sarina residents anytime soon with the application for the town’s first McDonalds restaurant in jeopardy. Find out why.

Plans for a McDonalds in Sarina at 93, 95, 97, and 99 Broad St were submitted on November 30, 2023. Photo: Contributed

The golden arches will not be shining its beckoning light on Sarina anytime soon with the application for the town’s first McDonald’s restaurant likely to be refused.

Mackay Regional Council has written a letter to Urbis, which had lodged the application, advising that the proposed development conflicted with the Mackay Region Planning Scheme. This was noted in the council’s pre-lodgement advice.

McDonalds Australia had wanted to replace the four homes at 93 to 99 Broad St to build its restaurant complete with a multi-level indoors playground and dual-lane drive-through, which would also require the relocation of the existing bus stop.

But the council stated the proposal not only conflicted with the area’s zoning as medium density residential but it also misaligned with the planning scheme policy direction.

“The policy direction encourages higher densities in locations adjoining major transport corridors and public transport routes and in particular infill opportunities within the urban area around the Sarina town centre … the proposed development should be located in the Sarina Major Centre to support a compact urban form with active street frontages and walkability,” the council wrote.

Plans for a McDonalds in Sarina at 93, 95, 97, and 99 Broad St were submitted on November 30, 2023. Photo: Contributed

It added if McDonalds wished to pursue its project at the same address, it was recommended to address three requests but even then “a refusal will still be recommended”.

First, McDonalds must demonstrate why it cannot build within the Major Centre Zone and it “must not rely on ownership of land as the primary reason” for justifying its choice of location.

Secondly, the fast food giant is requested to provide a pedestrian awning and relocate the restaurant to the Broad St and Breen St corner of the site so it is built to boundary along road frontages, a move which also requires the company to submit an amended Noise Impact Assessment.

Thirdly, it must submit a Landscape Concept Plan that includes gardens at least 3m wide on side boundaries; at least one shade tree every six car parks; and a garden at least 5m wide that includes signature trees and feature planting, as well as artwork that is encouraged to consider the township’s history, along the Broad St frontage.

McDonalds has until April 12 to provide its response to the council’s information request.

Once the council receives a response, it has 25 days to make a decision.

The council stated if McDonalds did not respond, the council would assess its application as is.

Originally published as Sarina McDonalds likely to be refused by Mackay Regional Council