NIMBY NEIGHBOURS OUTRAGED OVER PLANS TO BUILD FAST FOOD RESTAURANT
- Sydney suburb residents fighting new McDonald's
- Claim 24/7 outlet will increase criminal activity
- READ MORE: NIMBY neighbours try to shut popular music venue
Residents in an affluent suburb have blasted plans to build a 24/7 McDonald's in their backyard over claims it will bring 'undesirable criminal elements'.
Chatswood locals have objected to a plan to build the $2.8million fast food restaurant in their Lower North Shore suburb on Smith Street.
The proposed venue, which would require the demolition of a warehouse and office building currently on the site, would have 26 car spaces, a dual lane drive-through for up to 13 vehicles, plus waiting bays to collect food.
In planning documents submitted to Willoughby City Council, McDonald's said the store would primarily cater for customers picking up food via the drive-through.
They claimed this would reduce the demand for parking and other impacts on nearby businesses.
However, this has failed to convince nearby residents who lodged their objections to the plan.
Tim Royle wrote the outlet could worsen peak hour congestion on surrounding roads and could be an after dark magnet for 'undesirable criminal activities such as theft'.
Jessica Whitebourn also said the location could attract 'would-be criminals' to 'a dark playground of industrial units and streets in which to do as they please'.
She wrote: 'I cannot support a new 24-hour operation that McDonald's itself guarantees will increase crime and anti-social behaviour in my area; a pocket of Chatswood that is increasingly chaotic during the day but at least gives residents a reprieve from the noise and traffic at night.'
Other objections included increased noise, light pollution and even the increased availability of fast-food.
Local dietitian Lorinda Saleh said the outlet would 'allow easier access to high calorie meals'.
'We should be promoting healthier diets given the obesity we have in children and adults in Australia,' she said.
McDonald's said the proposed development fell within 'definition of a takeaway food and drink premises and is therefore permitted' under local zoning laws.
In response to these objections, a McDonald's spokeswoman said the fast food giant was 'currently working through the development application approval process'.
'Every McDonald's restaurant is committed to supporting the community it operates in through providing jobs, economic investment, training and development opportunities, and supporting local causes and groups that are important to our people and customers,' she told the Daily Telegraph.
'If approved, the restaurant will inject over $11 million into the local economy and create 120 jobs during construction, as well as a further 120 jobs once operational in crew, barista, management and maintenance roles for local employees.
'We will continue to work with council on feedback and next steps as part of the development application process.'
Willoughby Council has been considering the proposal for eight months with McDonald's recently submitting revised plans.
Read more 2024-07-04T02:36:42Z dg43tfdfdgfd