City of Darebin councillor Emily Dimitriades has voiced strong opposition to a proposed 24-hour McDonald’s restaurant on High Street, Northcote, as the council voted to reject the planning application in a six-to-three decision on Monday night.
Thousands of residents signed a petition against the fast food outlet, which was proposed for the popular shopping and live music strip recently named the world’s coolest street by Time Out.
“This proposal has gained significant community concerns, on issues such as safety, local character, neighbourhood amenity and the viability of small businesses,” Cr Dimitriades told the meeting.
“I pose the question to council: Does council have a responsibility to push back on proposals that are likely to have a negative impact on the prosperity of the business precinct as well as the environment and public amenity of the area?”
While council officers had recommended approval, citing that only minor building works required planning permission, councillors ultimately sided with community sentiment.
McDonald’s Australia expressed disappointment at the outcome, saying the Northcote site was zoned appropriately and that the $2 million project would have created more than 100 local jobs.
The decision follows similar controversies in Victoria over McDonald’s developments near schools and community hubs, reflecting growing local resistance to large fast-food chains in neighbourhood retail areas.
Source: ABC.
