Wānaka residents appear "not too bothered" by McDonald’s potentially setting up shop somewhere else in the town as the local MP indicates growth is inevitable and outsiders had too much say.
After the decision to decline a proposal for a McDonald’s at the base of Mt Iron was announced on Wednesday, the restaurant giant responded by saying it is still planning to move into town.
Waitaki MP Miles Anderson, whose electorate includes Wānaka, said applications for corporate businesses like McDonald’s were going to be more "common place" as the region continued to grow.
"With the growth that’s going on in Wānaka, probably McDonald’s will be looking to either appeal or maybe look for a site elsewhere that maybe isn’t this controversial," he said.
"We’ve committed to do a new RMA framework, but that new RMA framework will still take into account the concerns of the neighbours of proposed developments."
He also felt the current system gave those who were not residents of an area too much say in matters that did not directly concern them.
"I think the residents’ opinions should be given higher status in these things than people who don’t live in the area"
The Otago Daily Times spoke to Wānaka residents, who were pleased the restaurant was not going in the entrance to town but did not seem concerned if McDonald’s chose a different spot.
Vienna Kupa, of Wānaka, said although the decision to decline showed a good sense of community it did not matter too much where McDonald’s decided to go next.
"I think it would be better off somewhere else, but I’m not too bothered," she said.
Wānaka resident Rusty Wells echoed the laid-back attitude towards the proposal.
"I was not too bothered.
"However, if I had to make a decision, I’d probably lean toward them coming into town rather than being out there."
Hawea Flat resident John Bliss was not a fan of McDonald’s cuisine but development of the side was inevitable.
"There’s going to be something there anyway ... whether it’s McDonald’s or something else," he said.
One of the few supporting submitters, Conway Powell, found the decision a bit "bizarre".
"Mt Iron is a wonderful landmark ... But it is an undeniable fact that there has been an inexorable creep of housing developments and some highly visible commercial businesses," he said, while referencing the approved Caltex building at the foot of Mt Iron.
The decision to decline the consent was a topic of conversation not only in Wanaka but was brought up in Parliament yesterday as well.
Infrastructure Minister Chris Bishop referred to it as proof the system negatively prioritised the environment over the ability to get things done.
"I invite the member to reflect on the attempted establishment of a McDonald’s in Wānaka, which has gone to extraordinary hearings, public submissions and has been turned down." he said.
