By Kate Lockyer
A 24-hour McDonald’s backing onto residential properties has been proposed for 330 Nudgee Rd in Hendra, just a block away from a primary school.
Pre-lodgement advice provided by Brisbane City Council acknowledged the site is currently used as a non-residential car rental premises but noted the site, within character residential zoning, “does not align with the intent and overall outcomes”.
Hendra resident Bill Moore said the community feels the fast-food store would be inappropriate for the area.
“Everything about this development exacerbates rather than solves problems… Hendra is a quiet little spot with wide streets and very little traffic,” he said.
“No one wants to live next to a McDonald’s – particularly a 24/7 one.”
Mr Moore said with Nudgee Rd being a busy road, “putting additional traffic into the space is worrisome” as, apart from increasing Nudgee Rd traffic, some customers will likely exit onto quieter side streets rather than turning into busy traffic.
With the shop backing onto residential properties, he added that they are worried about bringing more people into the area when there is already “a very high level of concern about petty crime in unsociable hours”.
Mr Moore said that the pocket of houses in the blocks surrounding the site is “really a showcase of Queensland 20th Century architecture” and the fast-food store would be inappropriate for the area.
He said light pollution from the 24-hour operation, the odours it would emit, and litter would also be disturbing to residents.
In addition, residents do not want McDonald’s to take customers from other local hospitality businesses who are already doing it tough, and the proximity to Hendra State School is another factor in their objections.
This development application is subject to impact assessment, and while the public notification period is yet to be scheduled, almost 90 objections have already been lodged.
Lodge your submission at developmenti.brisbane.qld.gov.au
