If approved, it would be W\u0101naka\u2019s first McDonald\u2019s.<\/p>\n
The site is owned by Willowridge Developments, positioned beside the BP service station and near Mitre 10 Mega, with a retirement village currently under construction to the west.<\/p>\n
The building design features schist, wood and dark metal cladding to \u201ccomplement the surrounding commercial environment\u201d, with extensive glazing and landscaped frontage.<\/p>\n
A 6m illuminated golden arches sign and smaller wall-mounted sign are proposed, replacing the typical McDonald\u2019s tall pylon sign to better fit the local streetscape.<\/p>\n
The fast food giant is taking a second stab at getting established in W\u0101naka. Photo \/ George Heard<\/p>\n
According to the planning report, the dual-lane drive-through and carpark design would prevent queuing on Sir Tim Wallis Drive, while pedestrian crossings, footpaths and bike racks are included to encourage safe access.<\/p>\n
Lighting, noise and stormwater systems have been designed to meet council standards, with assessments finding \u201cless than minor\u201d effects on amenity and traffic.<\/p>\n
The consent application, prepared by planning firm Barker & Associates, seeks a non-notified approval, meaning the public will not be invited to submit feedback. <\/p>\n
The report argues that the development fits within the Business Mixed Use zoning and that any potential effects can be appropriately managed.<\/p>\n
It also highlights potential benefits, including new jobs, 24-hour food options, and increased \u201cpassive surveillance\u201d from lighting and activity on the site.<\/p>\n
Concept design of the proposed McDonald\u2019s on Sir Tim Wallis Drive in W\u0101naka\u2019s Three Parks area.<\/p>\n
McDonald\u2019s New Zealand spokesman Simon Kenny confirmed to the Herald that the new application had been lodged.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs previously stated, our intention remains to open a restaurant in W\u0101naka. A number of alternative sites presented themselves following the hearing on the Mt Iron resource consent.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have now lodged a resource consent application for a site in Three Parks, zoned Business Mixed Use. We will now work through the consent process with council. Subject to consent approval, we will then confirm a planned opening date.\u201d<\/p>\n
In February, commissioners declined consent for a proposed 455sq m McDonald\u2019s with a drive-through on the W\u0101naka\u2013Luggate Highway.<\/p>\n
That proposal drew 367 public submissions, with the vast majority opposing it, citing concerns about litter, traffic, visual impact and the preservation of W\u0101naka\u2019s natural landscape.<\/p>\n
At the time, Kenny said McDonald\u2019s remained committed to opening a restaurant in the town and was considering its options, including an appeal.<\/p>\n
Ben Tomsett is a multimedia journalist based in Dunedin. He joined the Herald in 2023.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"If approved, it would be W\u0101naka\u2019s first McDonald\u2019s. The site is owned by Willowridge Developments, positioned beside the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":97433,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[74,9526,682,1040,138,1259,2082,8456,71830,440,47758,10167,3234,111,139,69,10521,32361,28441,3109,71831,2539,40249,10117,71832,71833,4758,1961,2044,1339,20065],"class_list":["post-97432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-business","tag-after","tag-another","tag-being","tag-bid","tag-business","tag-community","tag-for","tag-fresh","tag-input","tag-local","tag-lodges","tag-mcdonalds","tag-months","tag-new-zealand","tag-newzealand","tag-nz","tag-opening","tag-opposition","tag-overwhelming","tag-public","tag-rebuffed","tag-restaurant","tag-seeking","tag-shot","tag-skirt","tag-submissions","tag-taking","tag-this","tag-time","tag-without","tag-wnaka"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=97432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97432\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/97433"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=97432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=97432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=97432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}