a day ago
McDonald's rejected from affluent Sydney suburb
One of Sydney's affluent Northern Beaches suburbs has said no to the golden arches, with a contentious proposal to build a McDonald's in Balgowlah shut down amid concerns of anti-social behaviour and congestion on an-already bustling road.
The plan to build the restaurant – which would operate from 5am to midnight – at 37 Roseberry Street, was unanimously rejected by the Northern Beaches Local Planning Panel (NBLPP) on Wednesday.
In its decision, the panel highlighted existing congestion in the area – which is home to businesses, dwellings and the Manly Vale B-Line bus stop, stating: 'The application has not demonstrated the proposed development will not have unreasonable impacts on the already congested surrounding road network'.
It also pointed out 'incidents of anti-social behaviour in the vicinity recorded by police' – who have raised concerns the restaurant could make matters worse.
In its submission to Northern Beaches Council, police said they had 'some reservations' about the restaurant – which was originally proposed to be open 24 hours a day – stating it 'may contribute to an increase in crime and anti-social behaviour, particularly at night unless adequate security measures are implemented'.
'Given the 24-hour operating model, this development has the potential to attract increased levels of crime, anti-social behaviour, and public safety concerns, particularly during late-night and early-morning trading periods,' police said in the report.
Police also noted a comparable existing 24-hour McDonald's located nearby recorded 58 incidents over the last 24 months, including assaults, burglaries and malicious damage.
Within the vicinity of the proposed Roseberry Street site, police recorded a total of 112 incidents over the past 24 months.
'The introduction of a 24-hour fast-food venue at this location has the potential to exacerbate these incident categories, particularly in relation to assaults, anti-social behaviour, and property damage at night, if reasonable mitigation strategies are not implemented.'
McDonald's had originally proposed redeveloping the site – which is currently occupied by the Seven Miles Coffee Roasters plant, head office and cafe – and opening the restaurant for 24 hours a day, seven days a week in an almost $4 million Development Application lodged to the council in February.
However, the hours were later scaled back to 5am to midnight, seven days a week amid community backlash.
A community petition calling on officials to 'Say NO' to McDonald's was launched in February.
At the time of publication, it had attracted over 3,000 signatures, with supporters raising concerns about traffic congestion and potential crime, as well as noise and rubbish pollution.
'We are calling for a rejection of the application … and to consider the cumulative impact of fast-food outlets on our neighbourhood's environment and character,' Petition creator Sarah Garland said, as per The Courier Mail.
Prior to the proposal's rejection, McDonald's told the publication last month, the restaurant would 'create more than 100 new local jobs and represents an investment of more than $3.9m into the community'.
contacted McDonald's for comment however a statement was not provided prior to publishing.
Plans for Redfern McDonald's scrapped
It comes after plans for a 24-hour Macca's in the inner Sydney suburb of Redfern were scrapped following uproar from local residents and police earlier this year.
The $3 million development plan for a two-storey restaurant on the area's main dining and shopping strip, Redfern Street, was blocked in a unanimous vote by the local planning panel at a City of Sydney council meeting in May.
Police and local residents fought to stop the proposal, warning it would lead to a spike in theft and violent crime at night, and be a step backwards for the suburb.
A request by a McDonald's representative for a six-week extension to try and resolve locals' concerns was also denied during the meeting, with one panel member suggesting those attempts would be like putting 'lipstick on what the community submissions largely believe to be a pig'.
The local planning panel conceded that the development proposal 'has not adequately addressed crime prevention'.
