Tamworth's fourth McDonalds restaurant to open on Wednesday

Franchisee Adrian Sippel said the new North Tamworth restaurant will employ about 120 people.

"We need somewhere around 120 plus [staff] per restaurant. It's a lot of people," he said.

"A lot of people think McDonalds, we only hire kids. I guess about 45 per cent of our workforce is over 18. A lot of people have to work during the day, during school hours, nighttime, overnight.

"It's not just kids, there's lots of adults that get opportunity as well. We've got a very diverse workforce from all different parts of the community."

READ MORE:

That local workforce is set to expand, with the 81-year-old corporation set to open its fourth Tamworth restaurant on Wednesday.

Builders were putting the final touches on the site on the weekend.

Mr Sippel, who owns all four Tamworth locations, plus McDonald's in Gunnedah and Scone, started at the company at age 15. He has worked at it for 23 years.

He said the site, at 114-122 Peel Street in North Tamworth, across from Northgate Shopping Centre and Jack Woolastan Oval, was perfectly place to take advantage of the growing city.

Tamworth's Blueprint 100 plan caters to major housing development in Moore Creek.

"Being there during the construction phase, it is a very busy part of town that isn't particularly well-serviced for coffee shops, convenience food, and travel stops and amenities," he said.

Want more local news? Subscribe to the Leader to read it here first

"I'm pretty confident it's going to be a busy restaurant."

The store will feature the city's first air conditioned McDonald's playground, and offer Menulog delivery services out to Moore Creek "probably for the first time", he said.

Tamworth Regional Council approved the new development - with 92 conditions - in December, 2020.

It won approval despite concern about its effect on waistlines in a city that already holds the record for fattest in the country.

Its opening hours will be limited to 5am to 11pm for the first six months, before a noise validation assessment is completed.

There are no immediate plans for a fifth McDonald's in Tamworth.

"I'm excited about what Tamworth has to offer.

"The Blueprint 100, Whether you believe or not, to get to 100k population we're going to need to feed these people and provide jobs for 100k people.

"If anything it's a show of confidence that McD wants to come to Tamworth and invest in our community. We see the Blueprint 100 as something that is achievable and we want to be part of that."

McDonald's already has restaurants in East, South and West Tamworth.

Hungry Jack's announced plans for a second outlet in October.

If it wins planning approval by Tamworth Regional Council, the store will occupy a lot at 248 Bridge Street, Tamworth.

The city also has two KFCs, two Red Roosters, an Oporto and a Taco Bell.

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: