West End residents have raised concerns over repeated overnight construction noise at a new McDonald’s development, including activity recorded around 4:00 a.m. or hours after authorised site work had ended.
Published accounts from neighbours near the Melbourne Street site describe months of disruption from heavy machinery, reversing trucks, drilling and unloading activity. The complaints have raised questions about whether overnight work at the site remained within council-approved hours.
In comments published in earlier media reports, Brisbane City Council said there was no approval for construction work at the site at 4:00 a.m. Previously reported footage from the site showed workers unloading steel at about that hour.
Located at 220 Melbourne Street on the West End–South Brisbane border, the fast-food outlet is set to operate 24 hours a day upon completion later in 2026.
Months of overnight disruption
Nearby residents have reported hearing cranes, drills, reversing trucks and other heavy machinery during overnight works. Some have said activity occurred more frequently than they understood was permitted, while others reported receiving no advance notice before some late-night operations.
The construction site sits in an inner-city area containing residential and commercial properties, placing overnight works in close proximity to nearby households and businesses.
Strict limits on night approvals
Brisbane City Council records confirm contractor Store Tec Pty Ltd obtained an out-of-hours construction approval for 220 Melbourne Street.
Brisbane noise rules prohibit clearly audible building-work noise within an affected building between 6:30 p.m. and 6:30 a.m., Monday to Saturday. Clearly audible building-work noise is also prohibited at all times on Sundays and public holidays, excluding Saturday public holidays, unless authorised by a development approval.
An out-of-hours approval does not grant unrestricted round-the-clock access. Council guidelines state that only the works and locations specified in an approval may be undertaken during the approved days and times.
Details released for the Melbourne Street project show Store Tec held approval for work between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 a.m. on designated nights. Council said there was no approval for work at the site at 4:00 a.m.
Earlier project notices advised nearby residents and businesses of planned overnight works, with most activity expected to finish by about 1:00 a.m.
Construction continues as neighbours seek clarity
Construction is continuing ahead of the restaurant’s planned opening later in 2026, while questions remain over the reported early morning activities.
No formal enforcement action over the reported 4:00 a.m. activity had been publicly identified at the time of publication. McDonald’s has said it is reviewing the concerns with its construction partners, while affected residents can report suspected out-of-hours building noise to Brisbane City Council.
Published 31-Aug-2026
