A controversial plan to build a new McDonald's restaurant directly across from a primary school on the Central Coast has been officially knocked back, culminating a year-long battle waged by concerned locals.
Community Outcry Leads to Formal Rejection
The proposal for a two-storey, 24-hour McDonald's franchise on the boundary of Toukley and Noraville was formally rejected by the Central Coast Council local planning panel. The decision comes after the fast-food giant submitted a $5 million development application in January 2024, which sparked immediate and fierce opposition from the community.
The panel unanimously agreed the project was "contrary to the character" of the area, particularly due to its proximity to Toukley Public School. In their findings, they stated the proposal was unsuitable due to traffic hazards, especially at the Evans Road and Main Road intersection, and labelled the 24-hour operation as "unacceptable" for the local neighbourhood.
Traffic and Safety Fears at the Forefront
The core of the community's objection centred on the safety risk to children attending the nearby school. A traffic report submitted with the application revealed there had been seven crashes near the proposed site in the past five years, four resulting in moderate injuries.
Wyong MP David Harris, who was among hundreds to lodge a formal submission, expressed his "deep concerns." "The safety of our children should be a top priority," Mr Harris said, "and the influx of vehicles associated with a McDonald's could pose a risk to the students' well-being."
The panel concluded that the impact on pedestrian safety had not been adequately addressed by the applicant and raised further issues regarding compromised vehicle access. They ultimately found the proposal "not considered to be in the public interest."
A United Community Stand
The development application attracted an extraordinary level of public dissent, with more than 400 formal objections lodged with the council. The community's fight was also underscored by a petition bearing over 1000 signatures.
In a powerful show of solidarity last November, hundreds of residents gathered at the proposed site—a former smash repairs workshop next to an Aldi supermarket—to protest. They wielded signs with clear messages like "Mac off, wrong spot" and "McStake," highlighting their firm stance against the development.
The council's final decision marks a significant victory for the Toukley and Noraville community, who argued consistently that the busy location opposite a school was fundamentally inappropriate for a major fast-food drive-through operation.
