Maccas for Mt Penang … submissions open on new DA

A new development application (DA) for a commercial development within the Mt Penang Parklands has been lodged 18 months after the project was rejected by the Central Coast Local Planning Panel.

A Statement of Environmental Effects has been prepared by the Stevens Group in support of the new application for a six-lot subdivision at 5 The Avenue, Kariong, to make way for McDonalds, Oporto and Taco Bell fast food outlets and a tyre outlet.

The proposed McDonalds food outlet would include car parking for 50 vehicles, including two spaces for people with disabilities ad dual drive through lanes.

Within the store itself there would be a 98-seat dining room, an 18-seat party room and a play area.

The Oporto outlet would cater for 64 customers and would have car parking for 32 vehicles, including one space for people with disabilities and a single drive through lane as well as an alfresco area.

The Taco Bell store would have seating for 62 customers have car parking for 33 vehicles, including one space for people with disabilities, and a single drive through lane.

The tyre outlet would incorporate three work bays, accessed via individual roller shutters, a showroom for product display and sales with mezzanine storage and car parking for 24 vehicles, including one space for people with disabilities.

The SEE says landscape designs prepared by Site Image includes a palette of carefully selected and located trees, shrubs, accents, groundcovers and grasses.

“The landscape design serves to provide a buffer between the proposed road verges, carpark kerbs and building footprint to soften the visual impact of the development whilst allowing for the development to operate in a safe and efficient manner,” the SEE says.

Approval is being sought for 24-hour trade seven days a week for all aspects of the development but the tyre outlet is likely to operate from 7am-6pm.

The SEE says the three food outlets would employ up to 180 full and part-time workers between them.

The original application was rejected in December 2020 by the Local Planning Panel, following the receipt of dozens of submissions and a recommendation from Central Coast Council for refusal.

It also recommended Council make representations to the Hunter Central Coast Development Corporation (HCCDC), Transport for NSW, Heritage NSW and other stakeholders encouraging them to prepare a comprehensive strategy that addresses all environmental and planning issues relating to future use of the precinct.

The Panel’s reasons for refusal included: the refusal of concurrence to the proposed access driveway by Transport for NSW (TfNSW); the refusal by the Heritage Council of NSW to grant General Terms of Agreement due to the impact on environmental heritage; and the proposal not being satisfactory with regard to relevant environmental planning instruments, plans and policies.

Stevens Group Manager Planning Services, Lin Armstrong, said the DA remained unchanged but new traffic studies conducted independently by TfNSW and the HCCDC reinforced the original argument for left entry only access from Central Coast Hwy into the precinct, with egress via The Avenue.

“We’ve been involved with the site for many years and because it is a highway precinct, highway access was always going to be required; we made that clear from the outset,” she said.

Armstrong said TfNSW had initially been unsupportive of the left only access from Central Coast Hwy but the proponent had now used new TfNSW traffic modelling to support the application.

“When TfNSW opposed direct access from the highway we amended access to be only ingress from the highway with agress via The Avenue but that was also rejected,” she said.

“However, there has been a change of personnel at TfNSW and we have been engaging with them.

“Our modelling was being disputed by TfNAW but now they have done their own modelling which supports ours.”

Armstrong said the plan would not interfere with the flow of traffic along the highway.

“These outlets won’t be generating traffic during peak hour,” she said.

Armstrong said no applications for additional development on the site would be lodged until there is an alternative form of access.

Residents have until August 5 to lodge submissions on DA/1760/2022.

Terry Collins