At its latest meeting council approved an amended development application for the facility proposed for construction on the south western side of the intersection of the Great Western Highway-Main Street-Caroline Avenue at Bowenfels.

A submission for a Hungry Jacks outlet on that location was first approved by council in June 2011.

The approval was for demolition of several private homes, a restaurant, internal and external playground areas, landscaping and off street parking for 37 vehicles.

Some minor modifications to the original plan were approved in October 2011 and again on January 2012.

The houses purchased by the company were demolished but in the ensuing three years there has been no further activity on the site.

Earlier this year a third modification to the DA was submitted to council.

This involved more extensive changes than the previous two and included the addition of two ‘specialty’ shops for undeclared tenants.

Once again it was necessary for council to proceed through the legal requirements.

Environment and Development Manager Andrew Muir said nearby residents had been consulted and had raised no objection to the changes.

He recommended approval. Cr Wayne McAndrew summed up the feeling of the community when he said it was pleasing to see some movement on the project ‘at long last’.

“The sooner we get this up and going and provide more employment opportunities the better,” he said.

Cr Ross Higlett wanted to know if this latest approval meant the project was actually about to start.

Mr Muir: That’s a matter for the company.

But they are quietly confident there will be a start in the 2015/16 financial year.

The Hungry Jacks project will mean there are three major fast food outlets on that intersection of two highways, strategically located little more than two hours travelling time out of Sydney (on a good day).