Of the 366 submissions, 339 were against the proposed fast-food restaurant next to the new Mt Iron roundabout, 21 were in support and six sought changes to the proposal.
Of the submitters, 106 said they wished to speak at the Queenstown Lakes District Council’s four-day hearing into the matter in Wānaka on November 25-28.
Consent is sought to construct and operate a 445sq m McDonald’s restaurant at 237 Wānaka-Luggate Highway, with a drive-through operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The prospect of a McDonald’s in Wānaka proved divisive when plans were first unveiled last November, and an online petition calling for the plans to be scrapped garnered more than 5920 signatures.
The most common complaints in the submissions included location, visual impact, concerns about rubbish, the nutritional value of McDonald’s food and potential negative impacts on local businesses.
A submission from the Working As One (WAO) Aotearoa Charitable Trust said it was opposed to the McDonald’s proposal because it would have "substantial adverse" impacts on the visual and aesthetic values of the sensitive location.
"The proposed mitigation measures, including planting and mounding, are insufficient to address the impacts of the building, signage, lighting and parking areas."
The trust also had concerns about waste management, because McDonald’s continued use and reliance on single-use and disposable packaging went against the community’s commitment to zero waste and environmental protection.
"Establishing a McDonald’s in Wānaka would be contrary to the district’s commitments to reducing waste and addressing climate change, as outlined in the QLDC Climate and Biodiversity Plan."
A submission from the Hokonui Runanga said the whole of Otago was regarded as ancestral land by Kāi Tahu, which had a cultural, spiritual, historic and traditional relationship with the Clutha/Mata-au catchments.
"Kā Rūnanga are concerned about the risk posed by inappropriate land use and development to the values of this
cultural landscape.
"The protection of significant cultural landscapes is a priority for Kāi Tahu. Mt Iron and its surrounds holds significant cultural values and associations for mana whenua."
A joint submission from Wastebusters and Plastic Free Wanaka opposed the location of the McDonald’s because of the adverse visual impact the restaurant would have.
"If a MacDonald's was to go ahead in Wānaka, Three Parks would be a more suitable location ..."
The duo also opposed the application because the waste to landfill and litter created by the restaurant did not align with the community’s core values of environmental protection and zero waste.
A submission from Hawea Flat School also opposed the application on the grounds that the restaurant’s food content contained "poor nutrition" and targeted low-income households with children, which led to poorer health outcomes for the most disadvantaged.
"It is also on the direct route which the families take from Albert Town and Hāwea into Wānaka for high school and after school sports, further targeting families and directly marketing [to] children."
There was also concern that allowing the build would set a precedent for other fast-food outlets to be built in Wānaka.
McDonald’s is aiming to open the facility in 2026.
