By Jessica Hopkins of RNZ
McDonald’s has been given permission to open a new restaurant in the Auckland suburb of Ōrākei, despite opposition from the council.
Following a three-day hearing this month, an independent panel has granted the fast food restaurant’s resource consent application to build a 24-hour drive-through at the currently vacant 152 Kepa Rd.
Auckland Council and Auckland Transport opposed the application, stating the site had insufficient space for a drive-through and queues would spill onto the already busy main road.
A large majority of the 381 written submissions from the public were also against the application – 331 were against, 45 supported the application, and five were neutral.
