The beef over a proposed McDonald’s in Wānaka has seen the fast food chain make its case during the first day of a resource consent hearing.
A team from the global multinational descended on the tourist hotspot earlier today to give their evidence for the proposed restaurant below Mt Iron on State Highway 6.
The topic has been contentious for the South Island town, since McDonald’s confirmed plans last year.
In recent weeks, there have been signs attached to trailers that have popped up near the proposed site – both for and against the development.
More than 6000 people have also signed an online petition opposing the development.
The lawyer representing McDonald’s, Jeremy Brabant, told three independent commissioners earlier today that the company’s proposed building is “relatively small.
“It uses recessive colours. The signage on it has been adapted and reduced. It has landscaping around it,” the lawyer said.
Sophie Ward from Wastebusters and Plastic Free Wānaka opposes the proposed new opening and spoke to Breakfast ahead of the council hearing submissions this week. (Source: Breakfast)
He said the restaurant won’t take any meaningful toll on the surrounding environment.
“It is not a rural, productive site. It’s not used for that, nor will it ever be. There is development upon it that clearly signals where the site is heading.”
The fast-food giant also addressed why it did not opt for a spot in the nearby Three Parks business area, saying what it was offered was a “heavily compromised site”.
The company’s finance and development director Daniel Parkinson said “it was not really suitable for the McDonald’s business.”
The issue of litter was also canvassed, with Brabant saying, “McDonald’s does what it can to educate the customers and request that they dispose of it appropriately.
“But beyond that, it is members of the public who do not do the right thing.”
McDonald’s opponent Sophie Ward from Wastebusters Wānaka has requested to make an oral submission at the hearing. She told Breakfast her concerns this morning.
“I think that the key thing that’s coming up is that there’s concern that McDonald’s business model really relies on single use,” she said.
“It just doesn’t fit with our environmental ethos.”
Resident Jesse Herbert was also planning to speak tomorrow and has campaigned against the chain setting up shop in the town. He is part of Wānaka’s Freshlink Grocer.
“There’s the obvious stuff … like traffic and noise … but my personal concerns are more based around the kaupapa of the town, the culture, why people move here, why they don’t live in other places,” he told 1News.
More than 300 people made submissions to the Queenstown Lakes District Council, with only 20 in support of the Golden Arches and six who wanted to seek changes, including reduced operating hours. The hearing is expected to wrap up on Wednesday.
