New McDonald’s restaurant taking shape

The new McDonald’s restaurant in Green Island should open in the middle of May, and the operator is confident it will be a shot in the arm for the suburb.

The building is taking shape and franchisee Justin Stonelake said the build was going well under lead contractor McIntosh Group of Ashburton. The building was about two-thirds finished.

It will be the fourth McDonald’s restaurant in the Dunedin area.

Mr Stonelake said the building was smaller than the Andersons Bay restaurant, but it had all that was needed, including a playground.

The company was looking to hire between 40-60 new employees, while workers from the three other McDonald’s restaurants in the city would also be employed in the new restaurant.

He was keen to get workers from the immediate area as he liked locals working in the business.

It was a great site for a restaurant, and people he knew in the area were really looking forward to the opening, he said.

"In town, in Dunedin, a lot has been done to it. But Green Island has not had a lot. So this will be great for the Green Island community.

"I’m really looking forward to it. It is always exciting opening a new restaurant."

The Stonelakes operate the four Dunedin restaurants, but no longer own any in Southland.