Queenstown Lakes District Council opened the proposal up for public submissions and of the 367 made, the majority were against it. Photo: 123rf
- A consent application to build a McDonalds in Wānaka has been declined
- Residents were concerned about the visual and aesthetic impact on the town, litter, as well as the area's values about protecting the natural environment.
- McDonalds New Zealand has not ruled out an appeal
- Some politicians believe the decision halts economic growth and development for Wānaka and shows why changes are needed to the Resource Management Act
One of the big opponents of a rejected bid to open a McDonalds in Wānaka says they hope community voices are not lost as the government targets an overhaul of consenting procedures.
In a decision released on Wednesday, commissioners declined to grant developers for the fast food giant consent to build a restaurant along a highway passage into the Otago town.
Queenstown Lakes District Council opened the proposal up for public submissions and of the 367 made, the majority were against it.
The commissioners' concluded the proposal fell short of the "gateway assessment" that required adverse effects on the environment to be no more than minor.
Other residents were concerned about litter, as well as the area's values about protecting the natural environment.
In its submission, local group Wao Aotearoa Charitable Trust said the development along State Highway 84's Wānaka-Luggate Highway would negatively affect the town's "visual and aesthetic values".
General manager Monique Kelly said McDonalds' intention to develop within a rural zone was unsuited.
"When we are coming into town we are greeted by Mount Iron and that beautiful vista that surrounds us," she said.
"Our duty under the District Plan is to protect these landscapes from sporadic and sprawling urban development.
"There's plenty of commercial and industrial land around Wānaka and I think there's options for McDonalds."
McDonalds New Zealand has not ruled out an appeal of the commissioners' decision.
Spokesperson Simon Kenny said the franchise would speak with the developer and consider the next steps.
"Our intention remains to open a restaurant in Wānaka, navigating some of the local commercial interests."
Although the decision had some gratification for the local community, the matter had sparked some political ire, mostly outside Cabinet.
Some leaders felt McDonalds was a victim of needless bureaucracy.
A few days before the decision, RMA Reform Minister Chris Bishop said on X that the McDonalds Wānaka bid was the "perfect example of everything wrong with the [Resource Management Act]".
"Endless submissions including by taxpayer funded neo-puritans, various small stupid changes like reducing height of the logo.
"Over a McDonalds."
Parliamentary Under-Secretary for RMA Reform Simon Court said these decisions had a "massive chilling effect on development and economic activity".
"We are in the process of replacing the Resource Management Act with a system that puts property rights first.
"If you're peacefully developing your own land, selling something people want to buy, your activity shouldn't require the consent of every Tom, Dick, and Harry with an opinion."
Similarly, ACT's environment spokesperson Cameron Luxton described the decision as "an economic own-goal for Wānaka".
"A legitimate business has been blocked from investing, hiring locals and selling products to willing buyers."
"It shows how our planning regime stifles development."
Kelly said ensuring community voice was retained as part of any amendments to resource management laws was "essential".
"Whatever iteration it becomes next, I hope we do take into account what communities around New Zealand want for their towns and cities.
"And that we have it as an important component of any hearing or any submissions going forward."
She said comments that the decision obstructed economic growth for the town held no weight, based on the crux of why the application was declined.
"There are plenty areas that are zoned commercial so that argument falls over."
The Resource Management (Consenting and Other System Changes) Amendment Bill had been slated to pass into law midway through this year.
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