Concern is growing over plans to build a Burger King next door to Tauranga Primary School on Cameron Road.

Antares Restaurant Group Limited, owners of the New Zealand Burger King franchise, has been granted resource consent by Tauranga City Council to build the fast food outlet between 5th and 6th Avenue.

Resource Consent has been granted to build a new Burger King on a site in front of Tauranga Primary School on Cameron Road. Photo: Digitally altered.

The proposed 301m2 development on the former Car Connexxions and Trevor Lee Autos site will feature 28 on-site carparks and will seat 70 inside and 12 outside.

The site is next to the junior section of Tauranga Primary School located on 5th Ave.

School principal Jenny McNicol says the school is concerned about the potential increase in traffic.

'Our only concern is for the children's safety. We are a central city school so we are used to properties around the school site becoming businesses.

'Our school site is split and that road goes right through the middle of our school grounds. If traffic is exiting down 6th Avenue it won't be the same problem, but if traffic is to exit through 5th Avenue it will come right through the middle of the school.”

Jenny says the school is hoping to work with the owners of Burger King and will be sending a letter to its CEO outlining their position.

'We have a simple solution we are putting to Burger King and that is to have a left hand turn only on 5th Avenue directing them back to Cameron Road.”

Resource consent to operate the Burger King at 388 Cameron Road was granted by TCC on July 27.

A site map showing the proposed Burger King and the senior section of Tauranga Primary School. The junior section of the school is located directly behind the proposed resturant.

TCC intermediate environmental planner James Jacobs says the land is commercially zoned and resource consent was only required as the activity proposed more than 25 carparks.

'This required the applicant to provide an Integrated Transportation Assessment, which was then reviewed by council's senior traffic engineer.

'He was satisfied and agreed with the information and assessment provided and, subject to the inclusion of traffic related conditions, had no concerns with the proposal.”

A Tauranga parent, who did not wish to be named, approached SunLive with concerns about the outlet's close proximity to the school.

He has two children who attend the primary school and says he is concerned about the promotion of unhealthy eating habits, as well as rubbish and traffic issues.

'There will be an increase in traffic which is dangerous as it runs right next to the school.”

He says there is also the danger of an increase in rubbish.

'There will be an increase in people going into school grounds to eat and leaving their rubbish there.

He is also upset the application did not go out to public submission.

'I thought there would have been some sort of public submission process due to the location.

'But it has gone un-notified, just flown under the radar. I am pretty disappointed with the council.”

As the land is commercially zoned council says the resturant activity was anticipated on the site.

James says in this case council matters of consideration were restricted to transportation and stormwater matters.

'On the basis of council's traffic and development engineer's advice it was considered that any adverse effects would be less than minor and that there would be no affected persons.”

Jenny says she is not concerned about the impact on children's eating habits or security at the school.

'The children don't bring junk food to school - I don't think that is an issue.

'We have a tight security watch on the grounds now, we have regular security checks and anyone who is not permitted on the school grounds will be moved on.

'I see the drive-through as the potential risk to us, more than those sorts of things, but who knows.”

Antares Restaurant Group Limited marketing manager Rachael Allison says the firm is looking to open a new restaurant in Tauranga but cannot confirm any details at this stage.