It’s official - McDonald’s is planning for a Wānaka restaurant. 

McDonald’s Restaurants (NZ) Limited has submitted a resource consent application for a local McDonald’s which would be open around the clock.

“The restaurant and drive-through are proposed to operate on a 24 hour per day, seven day per week basis,” application documents submitted on behalf of McDonald’s Restaurants said.

The 445m2 restaurant and drive-through would be constructed within the Mt Iron Junction subdivision and just off the SH6/SH84 roundabout currently under construction.

The McDonald's Restaurant is proposed to be located at the Mt Iron Junction roundabout

The McDonald’s would have seating for 75 diners and parking for 24 cars.

McDonald’s Restaurants NZ spokesperson Simon Kenny confirmed the company’s intention to open a Wānaka restaurant.

“While there have been rumours about McDonald’s coming to Wānaka for some time, we’ve not previously had a site that we thought would meet our criteria, and would be appropriate for the town as it grows and new businesses open,” he said. 

“Working with a local developer we now have a site we think is suitable, and we’re commencing the formal council consent process. We’re committed to working through that process as required.”

The application said the Wānaka restaurant would “give rise to significant positive effects”.

They included “the development of a high-quality, architecturally-designed commercial building, which will be visually integrated within the environment”.

The project would also provide “support for the local economy by enabling employment and increased spending in the area”.

The application said the “visual catchment” of the McDonald’s would be limited to the short stretches of road entering the roundabout, within 100-200m of the site, and a 200m stretch of SH6 prior to descending to the Cardrona River. 

“In most instances, the proposed building will be seen to one side of Mt Iron and will not appear to intrude into skyline views of Mt Iron…” the application said.

If approved by Queenstown Lakes District Council, which is currently vetting McDonald’s application, it would be the first of the fast-food giants to come to Wānaka. 

The resource consent application for the Wānaka restaurant was submitted on November 16.

PHOTO: Supplied