Councillors went against the recommendations of council staff to approve the McDonald’s restaurant, after key compromises were agreed to by the fast food giant during an on-site inspection on June 17.

The major change was to the hours. McDonald’s had hoped to operate the store and drive-through 24-hours-a-day, a feature that did not sit well with the restaurant’s residential neighbours.

However, McDonald’s NSW Real Estate Manager Jason Capuano met with the neighbours and councillors, stating that the company would be satisfied with reducing the hours of operation, from 5am to 11pm. With those hours, Mr Capuano said the Valley could still expect to see 100 jobs created by Christmas, as well as using local tradesmen to service the restaurant.

A 2.5m high wall will also be built between the restaurant and the neighbouring house to block noise and the sweeping glare of headlights coming through the drive-through.

A staff plan to have the wall extended to the highway side was slated by councillors. Mayor Rhonda Hoban said she ‘didn’t want the Great Wall of China’ disfiguring the Pacific Highway frontage.

“You wouldn’t want to have a nicely designed building and then stick a great big wall in front of it,” she said.

Mr Capuano said McDonald’s had the same concerns for the amenity of the building, and the possibility of graffiti.

The McDonald’s development will have to meet a list of 41 conditions for building to take place, including liaising with the Roads and Traffic Authority and council about traffic issues. The RTA was concerned the drive-through could see traffic back up on to the Pacific Highway at peak times.

As for the golden arches themselves, council’s Director of Planning Greg Meyers said the advertising sign synonymous with McDonald’s would have to pass in a separate application.

“The signs do vary in size depending on local shire regulations,” he said.

Mr Meyers said height and size restrictions had been enforced on neighbouring stores, so the size would have to be carefully considered by councillors.