MCDONALD’S will build a fast-food restaurant and drive-thru on Toormina Road having won its DA approval at The Land and Environment Court on Thursday 16 February 2023.

Amendments have been agreed to lessen the impact of the business in operation.

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A City of Coffs Harbour spokesperson told News Of The Area, “After consideration of the expert evidence for both McDonald’s and the City and submissions from the community, the Land and Environment Court determined to approve the development application subject to a detailed number of operational conditions.

“These include: a reduction in trading hours (noting the original application was for 24-hour trading 7-days a week); deletion of outdoor seating; increased landscaping; changes to the car park design to reduce potential acoustic impacts; and amendments to the Plan of Management to provide detailed procedures for noise handling, security and safety as well as procedures for litter patrol.”

The DA had been contested since being made to City of Coffs Harbour in June 2020 when the Munroe Group, franchisee of McDonald’s on the Mid North Coast, lodged a DA to build the restaurant with a drive-thru in the Toormina Road corner of the Toormina Gardens Shopping Centre car park.

The DA was rejected the first time by Council with councillors Knight, Rhoades, Townley and Swan voting against the development, while councillors Adendorf and Cecato voted to approve the development.

With amendments made, a second DA was submitted and subsequently denied by councillors.

In October 2022, after McDonald’s took its objections to the Land and Environment Court, and with a change.org petition by locals seeking to stop the DA reaching around 2,500 signatures, the Land and Environment Commissioner and Council’s legal representatives met on site and heard locals speaking on their objections to having a stand-alone McDonalds in Toormina.

Some members of the community are calling out the councillors who denied the DAs which led to McDonald’s taking the issue to the Land and Environment Court, and not negotiating with McDonalds out of court and thus avoiding the legal fees that will now be paid for by the local ratepayers.

City of Coffs Harbour Councillor Rodger Pryce told NOTA, “While acknowledging the efforts of the community were successful in amending aspects of the DA, it’s a pity that the amendments were not negotiated between the council of the day in 2021 and the applicant, being McDonald’s.

“If that had been so then the community may have been spared the high level of costs incurred by having the matter heard at the Land and Environment Court.”

Councillor Sally Townley said the Toormina community had raised valid concerns in their opposition to the development.

“Toormina community leaders put a huge effort into researching and documenting deficiencies in the application,” Cr Townley told News Of The Area.

“Their concerns about opening hours and traffic flow were found to be valid and their work resulted in the applicant modifying the proposal through the Court process.

“I’m sure those objectors would be disappointed by the outcome.

“However, they should be very proud of their achievements.

“Their participation in the process was so impressive and although they were unable to prevent this development their efforts have certainly reduced its impact on the community.”

A McDonald’s spokesperson told NOTA, “McDonald’s is pleased with the decision to grant development consent for the Toormina restaurant.

“Every McDonald’s restaurant is committed to supporting the community it operates in through job creation, economic investment and ongoing training and development opportunities.

“The Toormina restaurant will inject over $5 million into the local economy and create 100 jobs during construction, as well as a further 120 jobs once operational.

“We look forward to serving the local community once the restaurant opens.”

By Andrea FERRARI