Published December 2024
Over 400 people, including Member for Clayfield Tim Nicholls, have lodged their objections to a proposed McDonald’s in Hendra, citing concerns about housing, traffic and fast food.
In his submission, Mr Nicholls wrote: “I share the concerns local residents in Hendra and nearby suburbs have raised with me about the foreseeable and significant negative impacts this proposed development would have if approved.”
The 24/7 drive-through McDonald’s is proposed for 330 Nudgee Rd, a 10-minute drive from two McDonald’s already in the area at Albion and the Brisbane Airport.
Mr Nicholls raised several issues on behalf of his constituents, including cooking odours, increased traffic, the noise of ordering via speakers “at all hours of the day and night”, litter, and more.
He also noted the proposed development backs directly onto at least five residential houses who would be separated only by a fence from the lighting and noise of the store.
The application has galvanised concerned individuals into organising a recent community protest meeting at TC Beirne Park, where Hendra resident Bill Moore spoke to the crowd.
“It’s going to be a very long fight… we have got to be prepared to dig in for a fairly long punch up, but we’ve got to have some confidence that we’ll get there,” Mr Moore said.
He said their opposition to the development has received support from multiple levels of government; as well as Mr Nicholls, federal Labor candidate for Brisbane Madonna Jarrett, who was in attendance, and federal Brisbane member Stephen Bates are also supportive.
“Everything is wrong with it – the density of traffic is going to enlarge in the order of some 180 car movements per hour that will be added.”
“On top of that we’ve got the obvious things such as littering, the potential for increased crime as most of the business will be done in unsociable hours, being a 24/7 drive through,” he said.
Local mother Dana Hungerford-Symes said: “We love living in Hendra, we think it is really calm and peaceful for families, we don’t need hamburgers, we don’t need fast food here, it should be housing for families and the people who need it.”
