NOT HERE: North Orange residents Jeanette Priest, Rebecca Prestwidge and Sue Crowhurst are concerned a proposal to build a service station and KFC near north Orange Woolworths could be revived. Photo: STEVE GOSCH 0110sgkfc
ORANGE City Council staff have savaged a proposal to build a KFC and service station at the busy Telopea Way and Farrell Road intersection, but residents are concerned the plans could be put back on the table if the developers reapply.
The site, next to the Waratah Early Learning Centre, is currently residential and would need to be rezoned to make way for the development, like the vacant block opposite now at the centre of a controversial proposal to build a second McDonald’s.
In a letter to the developer, council’s development services director David Waddell said staff would not support the proposal in its current form because it was fundamentally deficient in assessing the impact on traffic in the area and the future of the central business district.
He also said the developer’s survey of 455 KFC customers did not provide enough evidence there was demand for the second fast-food outlet and criticised the decision to not consult with stakeholders.
“Council questions the wisdom of attempting to develop a highway service centre in a cul-de-sac whose entrance already exhibits high volumes of traffic in peak periods,” he said.
“Similarly placing a petrol station adjacent to a childcare centre when alternative locations exist seems at best imprudent.”
But the developers could change and resubmit their proposal for further assessment and that has got residents already up in arms about the McDonald’s development application (DA) concerned.
Sue Crowhurst said the traffic situation in the area was too bad for both the McDonald’s and the latest proposal.
“They need to do something up there it’s so dangerous,” she said.
“I don’t know how they are going to fix it unless they put a roundabout in.”
Kay Fitzgerald also cited a roundabout as the only option.
“We also need a roundabout at the intersection of Clergate Road and the bypass,” she said.
“Before any developments go in they need to fix it.”
She said a truck stop would be better suited further down the Northern Distributor near Leeds Parade.
Mr Waddell’s letter to the developers also suggested land near Leeds Parade.
He told the Central Western Daily the entire north Orange area would be reassessed by council and could have tighter development controls enforced.
“This area is evolving very quickly what with the McDonald’s DA, the opening of Woolworths, the new childcare centre and the Waratahs [sportsground],” he said.
“Council is looking at preparing a DCP (development control plan) for that precinct before any decisions are made.”
The DCP is expected to assess the traffic and road network of the whole area
DCPs are only guidelines for developments to follow and in recent times many of the council’s decisions have deviated from the existing plan.
But Mr Waddell said the DCP was still needed.
“It means council is at least setting the agenda not the developers,” he said.
clare.colley@fairfaxmedia.com.au
