Long-rumoured and long-feared by residents protective of their suburb’s ‘weird’ reputation, work on a new McDonald’s at West End is expected to begin next month.
Documents submitted to Brisbane City Council late last week show McDonald’s Australia has received permission to commence a fitout for a new restaurant at 220 Melbourne Street, South Brisbane – at the border with West End near the bottom of Boundary Street.
The McDonald’s has been rumoured for months, with concerns raised in online forums about the effect it would have on the neighbourhood. In the past few months, “McShithole” graffiti has been painted over on the construction hoarding at the site.
The Gabba Ward’s Greens councillor Trina Massey was no fan of the new eatery. She said West Enders had fought for decades to protect their suburb’s identity, and McDonald’s was not a good fit.
“Approving a 24-hour multinational conglomerate into the heart of the neighbourhood without any community consultation reflects exactly what is broken in our planning system,” she said.
“We should be backing local businesses and protecting liveable streets, not prioritising corporate expansion.”
A McDonald’s Australia spokeswoman said a local licensee “committed to playing an active role in the local community” would operate the new restaurant.
“McDonald’s has been a part of Brisbane communities for over 50 years, employing thousands of people, serving up a locally sourced menu and providing convenient destinations for customers looking for great everyday value and those iconic Macca’s moments,” she said.
“We are excited to be joining the West End community. A new Macca’s in West End represents an investment of more than $5 million and will create around 80 jobs during construction and a further 120 local jobs once the restaurant opens.”
The rumoured plans stirred up commentary on social media sites, such as Reddit and the Keep West End Weird Facebook page. There, comments have ranged from disgust to disbelief – with some enthusiasm for chips and local employment thrown in.
West End Community Association president Seleneah More said residents had been raising concerns for more than a year since it became apparent McDonald’s was on its way to the suburb.
And given commercial bodies corporate held more voting power, More said it was increasingly hard for residents to push back.
“It’s disappointing, but not surprising,” she said.
“Across Boundary Street, we’re seeing rising rents, underinvestment, changing consumer trends from post-COVID and long-term vacancies.
“That creates the conditions where only large franchises can afford to move in.”
West End community advocate Rhianon Ellis, also on WECA’s board, said there were community concerns about the effect of McDonald’s on local businesses.
“West End is known for its amazing cafes, restaurants and eateries, that really struggled to stay afloat during COVID and now a cost of living crisis,” she said.
“It’s disappointing to see a huge multinational like McDonald’s profiteer off our community and make it even harder for our small businesses to survive.”
McDonald’s has been approved to fit out the site at night between June 1 and July 3, with construction scheduled between 9pm and 6am, although most activity was expected to finish by 1am.
Residents and nearby businesses were warned to expect increased noise, traffic disruptions and temporary access restrictions during that period, according to letters distributed by construction firm Store Tec.
The project will involve structural steel installation, plant and equipment deliveries and concrete pours – activities that have been approved to take place out of hours to minimise daytime traffic disruption and safety risks on Melbourne Street.
A separate notification sent to Massey said the decision to work overnight was also driven by the need for road and footpath closures that would be difficult to manage during peak hours.
The fitout will include a public dining area, self-service kiosks, a McCafe counter, delivery and pick-up zones and an external seating area. Architectural drawings also show upgrades to signage, glazing, awnings and interior finishes.
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