A HIGHLY successful American fast food chain has firmly set its sights on Bathurst as one of its next Australian locations.
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Taco Bell originated in Southern California, opening its first restaurant in 1962, and has expanded to have 7000 restaurants worldwide.
Now, a development application has been submitted to Bathurst Regional Council for a site just outside the central business district, on the corner of Howick and Stewart streets.
The DA proposes to build the restaurant across two blocks, 103 and 105 Stewart Street, at a cost of $1.45 million.It will require existing infrastructure on the Avis Car and Truck Rental site and neighouring residential block to be demolished.
The house at 103 Stewart Street will be retained under the plans, to be converted into a commercial office under a future DA.
The restaurant is proposed to occupy 267 square metres of the site, while the remaining land will offer a two-lane drive through and 21 parking spaces (one disabled), in addition to landscaping.
... this is a company that would do their research before investing and it's great to see they find us an attractive location.
- Bathurst councillor Alex Christian
Driveways on Howick and Stewart Street will enable access in and out of the site.
Acoustic wall paneling, at 2.1 metres high, would be installed on the boundary alongside 301 Howick Street and continue around the drive-through to limit noise.
A 6.44m illuminated pylon sign of the Taco Bell logo is proposed to sit on the corner of the site.Should council approve the DA, it will make Bathurst one of three areas in NSW to have Taco Bell.
According to the chain's website, Taco Bell restaurants are "coming soon" to the NSW cities of Jesmond and Blacktown.
Taco Bell has seven locations open in Queensland and two planned for Victoria.
MAP: Where you can grab your Taco Bell in Bathurst
Councillor Alex Christian has welcomed the news that the American chain could have a restaurant in Bathurst, especially as it would be one of the first in NSW.
"It's fantastic and these are the type of companies that you want to be investing in Bathurst," he said.
"... this is a company that would do their research before investing and it's great to see they find us an attractive location."He went as far as to say that Taco Bell would be "a great shot in the arm" for Bathurst and said the location would be ideal given the lack of similar businesses at that end of Stewart Street.
When asked if other councillors would vote in favour of this DA, if it came to a council meeting, Cr Christian was confident they would.
"We must support businesses coming into Bathurst and I think most councillors would support a company like Taco Bell," he said.
