THE joke doing the rounds when Busselton became a city was – it can’t be a city, it doesn’t have a Hungry Jack’s!
Well it’s not through lack of trying.
In 2010 there was an attempt to have land on Causeway Road near the bypass roundabout rezoned to accommodate a Hungry Jack’s.
The then shire council knocked back the proposition.
Now Hungry Jack’s are looking at a new site, where the Indigo Pearl restaurant stands, on the corner of Bussell Highway and High Street.
The council has been asked to consider a modification to a planning amendment, approved by the council in December, to allow a takeaway food outlet with drive-through facilities on the four-lot site.
It will come before council tonight, but there are mixed views among councillors whether it should be allowed.
Staff are against the proposal because of the closeness of the proposed drive-thru outlet to residences – a staff report says the site adjoins and forms part of a predominantly residential area which includes six properties that directly adjoin the proposed site.
Last week Cr David Reid pushed for an amendment to the rezoning to allow it because he believed the city was in need of another high quality fast food outlet and it would provide employment opportunities.
Another councillor, Grant Henley will move to have the proposal advertised.
While he acknowledged the concerns of officers and the impact on adjacent landowners he believed the proposal was deserving of at least proceeding to public consultation.
However, Cr David Binks will move to have the item deferred for consultation between the city, proponent and adjoining residents and landowners, with a report detailing it being presented to council.
“This motion is intended to provide councillors with the best possible information regarding the impact on those who may be affected the most by this proposal that is based on the planning merits of the proposal itself, rather than speculation or hype surrounding potential lessees,” he has given as his reason for the deferral.
