McDonald's Approved For Marian Despite Community Opposition

The proposed site for the approved McDonald's development at 230 Anzac Avenue, Marian. Photo source: Mackay Regional Council

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A proposed McDonald's restaurant for Marian has been approved by Mackay Regional Council, despite attracting dozens of community submissions, a petition and ongoing concerns about its location on the banks of the Pioneer River.

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The proposed 24-hour food and drink outlet will be built at 230 Anzac Avenue, with council confirming it was legally required to assess the application against the Mackay Region Planning Scheme and the State Government's Planning Act.

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Council received 52 public submissions and a petition opposing the development, with many residents raising concerns about traffic, pedestrian safety, environmental impacts and the loss of valuable riverfront land.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council understood the concerns raised by the community but was bound by legislation when determining the application.

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"Based on the amended plans, supporting reports and State Government approval now before council, the proposal was determined to largely satisfy the applicable assessment benchmarks. Where non-compliances were identified, these were able to be dealt with via conditions and have been approved subject to a number of conditions, including conditions designed to limit its impact on neighbours," Mayor Williamson said.

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Council Chief Executive Officer Gerard Carlyon said while many residents opposed the proposal, the site had been zoned for mixed-use development since 2017.

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"While council appreciates a number of community members are opposed to a McDonald's in that location, the reality is that the land was zoned for mixed use development, including commercial development back in 2017 and the site has been available for McDonald's or any other suitable commercial development since that time," Mr Carlyon said.

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Under Queensland's planning laws, the application was assessed as a code assessable development, meaning council was required to determine it against the planning scheme rather than public opinion. While community submissions were considered, the application had to be approved if it complied with the planning requirements or could be made compliant through conditions.

Because Anzac Avenue is a State-controlled road, the Queensland Government was responsible for assessing traffic, road access and pedestrian safety. That approval was granted on June 30th and included conditions requiring a dedicated right-turn lane, a centre median with a pedestrian refuge and improved pedestrian connections.

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The outcome has disappointed members of the Pioneer Valley Community Alliance, which had campaigned for the proposed McDonald's to be relocated to a more suitable commercial site rather than the Pioneer River frontage.

Campaign spokesperson Karla Costello argued the proposal was not appropriate for a venue specifically designed to attract children and families.

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"McDonald's is actively designing this venue to attract children, birthday parties and family groups, yet it has not demonstrated that those families can safely park, cross the road and reach the restaurant," Mrs Costello said.

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The group also questioned the proposal's impact on the Pioneer River frontage, pedestrian access and parking, while a Change.Org petition opposing the location attracted more than 1,500 verified signatures available via www.change.org/p/stop-mcdonald-s-from-being-built-on-the-pioneer-river.  

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Although the campaign acknowledged Marian could support a McDonald's restaurant, it maintained the business should be built within the established commercial precinct rather than on the riverfront.

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Council has now approved the development subject to conditions.

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