Locals disappointed with MAJOR Maccas development
A 7-Eleven service station and a McDonald’s drive-through have been approved for vacant locations in Alkimos, much to the disappointment of residents living nearby.
The $2.1 million 7-Eleven will include three pump stations and a convenience store, while the $2.19 million McDonald’s will include restaurants and a double-track drive-through, at sites bordered by Marmion Avenue, Hawksbill Drive, Fontana Loop. and Carlsbad Promenade.
The Metro Outer Combined Development Assessment Panel heard the site for the service station was originally categorized for mixed use, but amendments filed in December 2020 saw it converted to commercial in November 2021.
However, McDonald’s sites are always categorized as commercial.
Emily Hoglund, who owns the land two homes away from the site, said she was told it would be for a small business or cafe, and neighbors were told it would be for a doctor or physiotherapist.
“Not for high-traffic businesses,” he said.
“I was told what color to paint my house to match the estate aesthetic and now they are going to put a workshop and a McDonald’s at the entrance.
“I wouldn’t have bought here if I had known this was going to happen. I wish I hadn’t signed a contract with a builder so I could sell the land and go elsewhere.”
Ms Hoglund also raised the issue of odors and questioned the need for development, saying there was a McDonald’s “not even 1km to the south” and three service stations within 1km.
“There are so many other useful businesses that we can have,” he said.
Fellow resident Brendon Hartmann also raised safety concerns, saying traffic was already “very dangerous” for students crossing Marmion Avenue to get to Alkimos College.
And Milorad Vujicic raised concerns with car headlights illuminating surrounding houses and concerns with noise that would be “like turning on a vacuum in a bedroom”.
He said residents were “very demanding” of the relocated constructions, and questioned why they weren’t built at the Santorini Parade where there are other businesses including Coles and workshops.
“It has no place in our area,” Vujicic said. “This is dangerous and inappropriate for the citizens.”
Community feedback was also strongly against the development with 124 of the 130 submissions at the workshop against, and 168 of the 183 submissions to the McDonald’s proposal.
However, City of Wanneroo approval services manager Greg Bowering said a lot of work had been done to understand how traffic and access would work and he believed they were on an “acceptable arrangement”, with the city recommending both applications be conditionally approved.
Alessandro Stagno, of Apex Planning, which represents 7-Eleven apps, said the risk of the amenity impact on occupants was “very low”.
He said noise was already in the area from high traffic on Marmion Avenue and the site was lower than Carlsbad Promenade, which would prevent headlights from shining into the house, as would the proposed 1-1.5m high fence for the entire frontage.
Stagno also says acoustic assessments demonstrate compliance at all times plus there are strict controls and standards for service stations.
Robin White, from Transcore, also said there was a lot of negotiation between Main Roads WA and the city regarding traffic and access, and both supported the proposal.
Dan Josh Watson, of Planning Solutions, which represents McDonald’s apps, added that it was the most traffic study he’s ever attended for a development app.
Accordingly, the applicant’s application to remove the requirement to file a revised driveway plan on Hawksbill Drive as far from the roundabout as possible has been approved.
Mr Stagno said the city had confirmed the proposed location was the best place for it and moving it any further would disrupt future road plans.
Another request to remove the provision to provide a “two-way” entry to the site from the Carlsbad Promenade was also approved.
While Mr Bowering said the conditions were meant to cater for local traffic and reduce the burden on the main access from Hawksbill Drive, Mr Stagno said it could conflict with internal traffic flows.
In moving the amendments, panel member John Syme said traffic analysis showed additional entries were not needed and “whatever we can do to keep traffic off residential roads, we have to do”.
The condition not to use red, green or yellow on signage was also removed, with Stagno saying the site was not located near a traffic light and those colors were heavily featured in both businesses.
Mr Syme also asked applicants to consider providing landscape screens on Carlsbad Promenade to provide continuity at both sites and to reduce light and noise problems for residents.
Panel member Sheryl Chaffer also added a requirement to close the Carlsbad Promenade exits between 10 a.m. and 5 a.m. to also minimize any impact on residents.
Other conditions include a management plan to detail how the delivery of fuel tankers will operate and the mark the price of a 10 m high service station will be reduced to 8 m.
Mr Syme said while he sympathized with the residents concerned, the decision to agree was “logical” given that commercial land use was “firmly defined within the planning framework” and a refusal would be easily overturned on appeal.
He also said applicants had done a “reasonable amount” to ensure the construction would not add to the existing traffic problems on Marmion Avenue, and that traffic and noise requirements were met.
However, Wanneroo board member Frank Cvitan said he couldn’t support 7-Eleven because he felt it was more of a one-stop shop than a repair shop, which should have services like vehicle and tire repair.
However, he backed the McDonald’s app saying it was appropriate for commercial zones and traffic issues had been looked at comprehensively.
“It meets all the requirements and in time, it will be a good thing for the area,” he said.
Kr Vinh Nguyen said he also sympathized with residents who felt misled about the future of the site but he was bound by planning laws which showed the proposal was appropriate for noise, traffic, smell and health.
He said mild concerns had now been addressed and overall, he didn’t think the developments would have a significant impact on residents’ comfort.
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