Australia: Locals Fight to Stop McDonald's in their Hills
Residents’ opposition to a new McDonald’s in the Melbourne hills suburb of Tecoma has linked direct action with online campaigning. In October 2012 an administrative tribunal overturned the local Council’s unanimous decision to reject a Maccas’s proposal for a new fast food outlet.
The Burgeroff website has three videos documenting their campaign so far. The first was posted at the time of the decision:
In addition to lobbying, rallies and marches, the activists have brought some fun to the protests by unleashing hundreds of gnomes on the steps of McDonald’s head office. We await “the reckoning of the gnomes”.
Gnomeageddon protest at McDonald’s headquarters in Melbourne
Courtesy: Burgeroff website
There is the inevitable Facebook page: NO McDonalds in The Dandenong Ranges with nearly 6000 Likes. @SAVE_TECOMA, the No McDonald's Tecoma twitter account, was used recently to ‘SWAMP THE MACCAS SWITCHBOARD!’
@SAVE_TECOMA: This is happening today folks. Can you please donate 5 minutes, your phone and your voice https://www.facebook.com/events/100475593476242/ …
An online petition has 9000 signatories.
#burgeroff has also been a popular hashtag for spreading the word. Freiheitdance (Kari) has even claimed a famous son for the area:
@freiheitdance: #JulianAssange used to live in Tecoma & Emerald. Revolutionary folk start out here. I'm off to order my “No Tecoma Burger” now. #burgeroff
John Weiss has been a supporter of the McDonald’s going ahead. He has challenged its opponents on the Burgeroff website and used his Facebook page for this observation on the involvement of children in the campaign:
Wow, a bunch of grown ups harassing children. What a wonderful statement for your cause. Nothing more than child abuse from a group of school yard bullies!
The latest video, March against Maccas, captured the rally on March 2, 2013:
A crowd of approximately 3000 vowed that the “community stood united once again to declare that they won't ever back down from this fight”.
They are definitely not ‘lovin’ it'!
267 comments
John Weiss lives in Werribee ha ha ha thats a long drive for him for a burger…seems some people like to just cause arguments and jump on bandwagons whereever possible but it sure gives me a deep belly laugh….there are a couple of others that latched on too from the Maccas Website…hmmmm…food for thought ha ha ha. John’s wife and son are both involved in the Maccas with his son employed there and his wife working for a franchisee so that might be the drawcard for him I guess :) McDonalds is not wanted in the Dandenong Ranges, not opposite a primary and within close proximity to the National Park….thats a given…9 our of ten say no!
Once more Lisa, making it personal when you have nothing left to fight with. If all you have is the ability to personally target me then it shows how little the movement has left to fight with. Keep on attacking me, I am sure that this will get McDonalds to change their mind!! LOL
John you had your say below dont be silly – the three of you with your multiple posts is hillarious…all the best :)
Laugh all you want Lisa. But who’ll be getting the last laugh?
An new tactic. if you dont like the reply, delete your original comment and repeat the smear. Well done! Thank goodness for screen caps! LOL Once again, it shows how low your campaign has sunk and how little momentum you have left when all you have is to attack a person! I’m sure the personal slander against me is 100% going to work in getting Maccas to pull the pin on their Tecoma franchise! After all, I hold so much influence over it all by your own reckoning! LMAO
It shows how low your campaign has sunk, yes indeedie, ,”it shows how low your campaign has sunk and how little momentum you have left when all you have is to attack a person”, writes this same person who has made attacks against individuals further down this thread. hhhmmmm
Graeme, the difference between us and the anti movement is that we aren’t a campaign! We are just some intelligent individuals who have congregated for the common purpose of challenging the mistruths being uttered by individuals. Big difference. It makes no impact on us whether maccas builds or not. But like I said, keep on smearing me, that will get maccas to the negotiating table! Keep up the great work! LOL
thats whats so funny John, you live nowhere near here and nobody actually cares what you lot think, you use bully tactics the same as the corporation you support and you cant seem to stop. Im not sure what you see as “intelligent” but fighting for a burger outlet in a National Park area that you live nowhere near is transparent. People see it for exactly what it is. Ridiculous and laughable – you have a vested interest with your family being involved with McDonalds so just like Kit any comment you make is invalid and prejudiced
For people who don’t care, you invest a significant amount of energy finding out and spreading information about me? Personally, I think you have a secret crush! LOL
Lisa, I don’t work for McDonald’s. I haven’t done so in over fifteen years and even then, I only ever reached the level of assistant manager before moving on to manage a Nando’s.
I have no conflict of interest here, despite your desperate assertion. In fact, my working knowledge of the McDonald’s operations would make me BETTER qualified to understand the dynamics of the situation than you, who relies on nothing but sheer emotion and fabrications to make your point.
If living outside the Shire negates any say on the development, I’m sure you’d be happy to discount the thousands of signatories to the online petition who are not residents, Lisa?
Your arguments against McDonald’s should be based on the impact on the local community, such as they may be. To vilify and attack those who do not share your view degrades yourself and your cause and frankly, reeks of desperation at this late stage in the development.
Please, grow up and learn the value of respectful and civil discourse. It’s what adults do.
and Kit your involvement with McDonalds makes your entire comments prejudiced and unworthy. The only three people bombarding these comments for the proposal, two of whom dont live near here are involved with McDonalds. Thats why it is so laughable
And two people, one of whom is a prime activist in this protest is involved in the anti globalisation/commercialisation movement Occupy. That makes their comments tainted with bias and unreliable. Your point? If people were honest, we could find many reasons to discredit due to potential bias. Doesn’t diminish the persons right to have a say? Would it change things if I was on your side? You’d be crowing all over the place saying “this person knows all about maccas and he supports us, yay him!” How many of your movement have once eaten at maccas? How many once worked at maccas? Does that diminish or strengthen in your eyes? More examples of hypocrisy! But hey, keep playing the man and not the ball. It’s worked so well for you so far in getting maccas to the table! LOL
Lisa, I don’t work for McDonald’s. I haven’t done so in over fifteen
years and even then, I only ever reached the level of assistant manager
before moving on to manage a Nando’s.
I have no conflict of interest
here, despite your desperate assertion. In fact, my working knowledge of
McDonald’s operations would make me BETTER qualified to understand the
dynamics of the situation than you, who relies on nothing but sheer
emotion and fabrications to make your point.
Oh Shock!! you mean they live in the Dandenong Ranges ha ha ha ha ha – thats what this is about remember – keep McDonalds out of the Dandenong Ranges
No, the protest is about keeping McDonalds out of Tecoma and preventing inappropriate development (all fast food convenience restaurants) out of the Dandenong ranges. That latter part is what the petition presented to parliament sought. It did not mention a brand. But once more the brand bias is evident because you allow Subway to trade in the Dandenongs and utter not a peep in protest.
Boronia is not in the Dandenong Ranges, neither is Kallista. Oh, and Tecoma is NOT in the Dandenong Ranges. Try sticking to facts. (That would be a first for the lunatic fringe vocal minority.)
You need to do your research there Ned and get to know your areas. Considering your fake profile is named after a bushranger I figured you would have known Kallista is part of the Dandenong Ranges – best you do your research..another one who is clearly not from here!
Whilst I reserve my right to not devulge my address to trolls in a public forum I wish to highlight my concern that the above information is incorrect. I certainly hope that there are no innocent people being subjected to ‘inappropriate behaviour’ due to this misinformation.
You are a joke. Get your facts straight boy! I certainly hope you haven’t been harrassing some innocent person in Kallista because that will certainly bite you in the bum.
Fact is I will not devulge my location to any troll on this page. I have mearly pointed out that your information is incorrect to protect innocent people from getting targeted. I have every right to protest against this ‘inappropriate development’ as it will effect myself and my loved ones daily.
It’s quite obvious that the opponents of the McDonalds franchise in Tecoma are so passionate that they have degraded to personal attacks to discredit and smear along with the deleting of orginal posts that have attracted negative replies and then reposting the original post so as to appear vindicated in their actions. Your overt censorship just stands to prove how flimsy your cause and commitment are. Can’t handle objection or criticism? Simply silence, delete, smear, ridicule… avoid the truth, hide the facts. This is what the No McDonalds in The Dandenong Ranges campaign has been about since day one! Misinformation based on outdated and fabricated propoganda that feeds the paranoia of those with good intentions but insufficient time to do true research on this whole debate. If you delete the truth, how can people make an informed opinion?
Interesting how you ignore my comment above. I have NEVER attacked you in any way, shape or form and I think I can safely say that the majority of the campaigners have not either. Yet you, Mr. Weiss, have stalked in person, stalked on FB, personally threatened, bullied and harassed many of the campaigners. This IS a democratic society, is it not? Yes, I thought so and on those grounds alone, we are allowed to voice our opinions without fear of your thuggary which has been displayed quite openly to all who oppose your opinion and that of your ‘flock’.
Oh Merryn, I only go those who crossed the line themselves. Now they regret their actions because they are getting a little of their own medicine back? Name names Merryn otherwise it’s an utter fabrication on your behalf. As for being my flock? Once more, you give me too much credit. The people who oppose you have their own minds and opinions and are intelligent enough to see through the misrepresentations offered within the anti campaign. But hey, you keep up the great work of getting maccas to the negotiating table by attacking me.. It’s worked out so well for you so far hasn’t it? Well done! (I’d like to know who I’ve stalked in person btw? That’s the best spin I’ve heard in ages! Kudos on that one Merryn!) ps: that’s libel btw!
As I’ve read enough evidence of your mannerisms and records of threats made to their person in some of the posts above, Mr. Weiss, I’m more inclined to actually believe what’s in front of me in black and white for all the world to see.
And I ask for the third time, to address me formally, Mr. Weiss as I feel most uncomfortable with your ‘familiarity’. Thank you.
Merryn, I reserve formality for those I respect. And really, I’ve been been derided and treated with contempt by you people, so these formalities are pointless and prove nothing, nor does it change how horrid some of your supporters have been in support of your movement. At this time you’ve not earned anything to deserve that right and nor have any others within your movement when you continue to focus on lies and misrepresentations. Your continual attacks and accusation are simply intended to paint me in a bad light and yet you know nothing about me. I’ve chosen to comment on Esther Kelly’s public videos because they are in the public domain and are widely criticised for her smarmy and condescending facial expressions, especially when these children she engages with have no idea how to respond to her request as this is something out of their skills set. I’m going to be openly critical of the protest movements methods because the anti globalisation agenda of the occupy movement is evident in this and a prime motivator of the cause. Reality is that this protest has failed in its aim. McDonalds will not relent. They will build. The only thing that has occurred here is a community divided even though you simply refuse to acknowledge it. Most people don’t care in all honesty but just go with the flow because they want to avoid the confrontation they have been subjected to by the “in your face” protest methods. But hey, as I have said, open hostility toward me ïs going to get maccas to stop the build! Keep up the great work Merryn! Well done!
ok weissy, let’s be informal then. Thanks for the kudos and giving me credit for the campaign but really, it was the Community of Tecoma that has propelled this into action not me, so get your information straight. And the only bad light is the one you keep standing under, showing your true colours and tight affiliations with McDonalds. Hence, I choose to ignore any further comments made by you, wiessy. Ciou
You go from the absurd to the ridiculous don’t you Merryn? Just shows how unbalanced you people are and when pushed, you revert to your true nature as was shown by your contemptuous post above. As for tight affiliations? Really? Keep spinning that rubbish. I mean, my affiliations are so tight you’ve got maccas shaking in their boots by singling me out! I can see Ms Noble racing to clear her calendar to meet with the massed zealotry just because I’m being ridiculed! Oh, and it is Ciao babe, ciao..
And Merryn, allow me this by way of explanation of the reluctance to succumb to your requests for formality. At the prison I work at, the crooks refer to me as Mr Weiss. So, let me ask, are you wanting to be like them and continue this charade or shall we move on?
I love Tecoma just the way it is and that’s the way it will stay. McDonalds may have used the law but so did O.J. Simpson, doesn’t make it right. Just sayin.
DECLARATION OF OUR RESOLUTION
We the people of the Dandenong Ranges declare…
When
in the course of human events it becomes necessary for the citizenry to declare
that the judicial process has failed them, it behooves them to assert their
democratic rights.
Now
we are engaged in a great test of strength, challenging whether our precious
home, so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure in its present form.
We
expect the final battle against McDonald’s is soon to begin. Upon this encounter
depends the survival of the beauty, the health, the cultural diversity, the
tranquility and all that we hold dear which has led us to proudly call the
Dandenong Ranges our home.
The
whole might of McDonald’s, we know, must shortly be turned upon us. It will
hurl its massive economic resources, call in favours bought by political
donations, set its legal Death Star in motion to try and muzzle our voice, and
continue to broadcast its perverse propaganda.
This
corporation can never endure a single united community standing firm and
repelling it, lest other communities be so inspired as to likewise rise up and
defend their homes. McDonald’s knows that it will have to break us on this very
ground or lose its war of endless expansion and cultural pestilence.
If
we can stand up to McDonald’s, much of our fair nation may be freed of its
dominance and may thus move forward into a fresh and beautiful world. But if
Tecoma falls then the Dandenong Ranges will fall, and other faraway sites of
beauty and worth will be razed one by one.
Australia
might well little note, nor long remember, what we dedicate here today but,
with faith in ourselves and our noble cause, we know it will never forget the
legacy we shall leave our children.
So
it now falls upon our shoulders to dedicate ourselves to the unfinished work
before us. We therefore declare that we shall never renounce our vow that,
whether an outlet is indeed built in Tecoma or not, we shall resolutely join
together and fight until this scourge is driven from our midst.
So
declared by the representatives of the overwhelming majority of the Dandenong
Ranges
This
day 13 March, 2013
So Karl (let me shoot everyone associated with McDonald’s in a fit of hysteria and rage) Williams, would it be out of place if I pushed my agenda and hijacked the SelbyFest and intimidated the young staff etc? (Just a yes or no will suffice).
Hmmm, I think this is yet another example of the vocal minority Vs the silent majority. One would think that the whole of postcode 3160 was against McD’s in Tecoma. Not true! Every argument that has been proposed for why McD’s should not be in Tecoma has been countered! At the end of the day its a simple thing . . . it’s a matter of choice! Don’t want McD’s – Don’t Go!
No
sensible business would establish themselves where they’re not likely
to draw local custom, so clearly there is demand for their product in
the area. Any argument that McDonald’s doesn’t have the ‘moral’ right to
operate based on the faulty assumption that the majority of residents
oppose the development is therefore a totally invalid and vestigial
element of a failed case.
That’s right, the vocal minority,the pro maccas gang, against the silent majority, people that don’t want it but don’t protest!
I know a couple of people who are for it, my sons friends, I think 9/10 was conservative!
I have reclaimed Tecoma from the vocal minority and it’s my legal and moral right to allow McDonald’s to commence building.
You are the vocal minority!
The Royal Society of Paediatrics has tabled a paper in the UK Parliament showing the link between childhood obesity and proximity to fast food outlets. More and more shires in the UK ban fast food outlets from establishing near schools, libraries and similar public spaces. Here “the law” allows this to happen. We as tax papers invest in healthy eating programs, initiatives to combat obesity but then allow a company which callously targets children with their advertising for unhealthy food to set up shop diagonally opposite a kinder and primary school. This just doesn’t make sense.
Proposed site is 50 meters away from Tecoma Kindergarten and Tecoma Primary.
That major highway you talk about Einstein is a one lane road which is actually the extension of Monbulk Road – hardly a major highway by any means and our township has a general store like many townships. Your arguments mate are sooooo laughable….sooooo off topic ha ha ha ha…yeah lets compare lollies to a fast food outlet ha ha ha ha…oh wait and all the things that are only available with ID…Yep thats comparable ha ha ha ha
So what you are saying here Lisa is that Burwood Highway all the way from the Monash/Citylink up to Belgrave is an extension of Monbulk Road or is it actually the other way around? The name of the road is “Burwood Highway” and has been that for as long as many of us can recall who were born and raised in the area like I was! http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burwood_Highway
Lisa Belmont, you’ve done it, you’ve made the stupidest argument/comment yet in this silly saga. “things that are only available with ID”. I’m so happy you cleared that up and that the kids DIRECTLY opposite at the PS can’t see the HUGE VB beer advertisments because they don’t have ID. hahahahha oh my, and you’d better call vicroads and tell them someone stole their Major Highway. You have the mind of a vegetarian, you know, low IQ and all that.
Burwood Highway (Toorak Rd.) is also a one lane road through Toorak and South Yarra. Also a one lane highway through Burwood. This has all been said before, where have you been? Down the bottom of the garden sharing Esther’s fairy costume no doubt. There is NOTHING special about the Melbourne suburb of Tecoma with a metro railway line and suburban major Highway.
Fact…maccas wasn’t on every street corner in the 70’s and 80’s! It was an occasional treat! Do you have kids Ned? Tell John that he’s a bad influence as he must spend 12 hours a day on the net! Just look through this page, its all John who lives on the other side of the city, so if Esther hasn’t got the right to comment or feel concerned , why does John? You claim to be local, but I’ve never heard of a Ned Kelly around here!
Obviously technology and the ability to use an iPhone while out and about has escaped you Jon, but I sort of expect that from you.
Have you made 1000 comments on the healsville and seaford maccas fight, or are you only,”pro choice” when it comes to Tecoma?
Well, considering I never lived in Healsville or Seaford, I have no interest in being involved in a debate relating to those areas Jon. Unlike the unwanted interfence of people from Tecoma in a campaign that both Healsville and Seaford chose to not to copy (and subsequently succeeded in their own campaigns using the law and without harassment!) Their planning applications were defeated in accordance with the legal statutes in place, these same statutes that permit McDonalds to build their restaurant in Tecoma. When all I have ever said is that the laws are what allow this and that I respect the lawful decisions, why would I be a hypocrite like you Jon?
But you’ve just spent a year of your life fighting to have maccas in Tecoma, that’s not “pro choice”, that’s fighting for maccas in Tecoma! You don’t live here, why get involved to the point where it has become your life! Its not that important to anyone else in the western suburbs! I have just proven you’re a hypocrite!!!
Do you think you’ve achieved anything at all? All you’ve done is make it into a fight,of course people were going to protest, you didn’t have to fight them, you are still going! There is no need for all the abuse and hostility, whats the point, let them protest, you say they’ve lost so why keep going? Your the one who makes it personal, if I sneeze you call it a threat! You’ve wasted your time, a hobby? Your enjoying this fight! If you want to fight, come to the Ban the burqa page, its a real fight over there! But you would support the muslims right?
Why keep going? Because they continue in their harassment of children Jon. Because they keep flogging a dead horse and spinning lies Jon. Also, I’m yet to hear anyone sneeze and then it sound like “I could kill you with one punch” (as per your earlier comment in reply to me) and not consider it a threat Jon. As for ban the burqua? I’m not a racist bigot so why would I bother with that ridiculous diatribe?
No one is harrassing children,I’ve only heard lies from your gang and that is not a threat, but a statement! Fighting is dangerous, why fight over something like this?Muslims are racist, but being against them isn’t! Its a religion! You’d fit right in there!
No worries Jon, and you aren’t a convicted drug dealer either hey? I’d like to hear what lies you have proven Jon. C’mon sunshine, do tell? Very easy to make a claim, much harder to back it up with evidence Jon. Needless to say, you put the words out there but can’t back them up as per usual. Oh and as for your muslim hating rubbish, I leave the redneck bigot stuff to you. Seems you have a great deal of expertise!
Your good mate Fat Tat said he has a house in Belgrave and Tecoma=lie! He said I sell drugs to kids=lie! He said he’s not gay=lie! You said your wife doesn’t work for maccas=lie! You say a lot of stuff you can’t prove,your not the victim your the villain! You said this, you said that, all lies!!! Yeah, I did get done for selling weed when I was 18, 26 years ago, will you still bring it up when I’m 60?
If I had sold drugs to minors, I would of gone to jail,now your saying I sold drugs to kids! You’ve repeatedly said your wife doesn’t work for maccas, but she doesFilth, thats what you called the nice old lady on the maccas FB page! She wrote”Please Mcdonalds, don’t build in Tecoma”,it was obvious her name was Polish,but you abused her with your Germ-anic or Ger-manic name! When I explained to you that she lost her family in the war, you called me racist! What you should of done was said sorry! Your a real nice person, aren’t you John?!
defamation right there!!! your a odd little man John
It’s only defamation if it isnt true Lisa. And in the written form it is known as Libel. But since Jon has openly admitted his conviction for dealing drugs in this forum, it is now an accepted publicly known fact.
Tell that to the relevant authorities mate. You just spoke out in front of the wrong people
Go for it. LOL I have wonderful legal counsel who have this movement in it’s sights! There are a few key players we are hoping to “flush out” in this! I wish yuo luck! LOL Quote: The 2005 reforms also established across all Australian states the availability of truth as an unqualified defense (Defamation Act 2005 (Vic))
Lets see what your work (prison) think of you using records available to you to slander people over the internet…serious breach of confidentiality right there!
LOL, go for it. You will be the one being hit with action for making a false allegation. Our systems have audit trails and I can assure you, my name is perfectly clean. My source was a former friend of the individual accused. You seem to forget that Jon and I went to school together! LOL
But I dare you. The number for the Office of Correctional Services Review is 03 9947 1640. Will just go to prove how vindictive you are to accuse a person of abusing their official privelege on an assumption. Then I can pursue you for defamation as that has the potential to damage my reputation and career based on a lie you have told! Good luck with that one.
We can also add: Claimant is incapable of further defamation – e.g., the claimant’s position in the community is so poor that defamation could not do further damage to the plaintiff. Such a claimant could be said to be “libel-proof”, since in most jurisdictions, actual damage is an essential element for a libel claim. Essentially, the defence is that the person had such a bad reputation before the libel, that no further damage could possibly have been caused by the making of the statement.
And again: There are several ways a person must go about proving that libel has taken place. For example, first, the person must prove that the statement was false. Second, the person must prove that the statement caused harm. Third, the person must prove that the statement was made without adequate research into the truthfulness of the statement. These steps are for an ordinary citizen. For a celebrity or a public official, the person must prove the first three steps and that the statement was made with the intent to do harm or with reckless disregard for the truth.[14] Usually specifically referred to as “proving malice”.[
So its ok for John but not Esther? I think she has more right to have a say than John!
You’ll be petitioning to have all the other fast food restaurants along the Tecoma commercial precinct removed then I assume Nicole? I mean, you as a member of TVAG has started by victimising the proprietors of the Saffron cottage, why stop there? Why not lobby to have all the pizza shops, fish and chippers and others forcibly removed, or are you a hypocrite?
What should have been an open and shut case has come this far. The McDonalds Tecoma application was unanimously rejected by council with a record number of objections and the council meeting having to be relocated to a bigger venue because of the sheer number of protesters present. McDonalds had a whole 60 days to announce they were going to appeal and chose to do so with only a few days left, just before Christmas 2011, a deceitful act done deliberately knowing people were busy with Christmas or away on holidays. They spent a million dollars at VCAT to get the councils decision overturned and got the result they were looking for. As a community we were horrified with VCATs decision. They are an unelected unaccountable body that overturned a democratically elected council. There are many problems with this proposal, It goes totally against character amenity, does not fit in with the village type atmosphere, is near a national park, opposite a primary and preschool and is already on a peak bottleneck road which will only get much worse with complications with exit and entry points involving cars and trucks. The area comprise of mainly single lane roads, including that particular section of Burwood Hwy. International studies have confirmed that antisocial behaviour and crime are well up around MD’s, particularly since its going to operate 24 hours. I took part in Clean up Australia Day around Belgrave station and there’s already a fair bit of McDonalds litter and it hasn’t even been built yet. Am I singling out McDonalds? No I’m not, there was even more Subway litter and there’s a Subway in Belgrave, a small store that doesn’t even operate 24 hours, unlike the huge proposed 24/7 McDonalds for Tecoma. Imagine the litter in the surrounding areas once it has been built, including the nearby national parks and waterways. There is nowhere in Tecoma that operates beyond 11pm so why does McDonalds have to operate 24 hours? What about the children and the primary school and preschool who are going to be exposed to unhealthy eating habits at a young age. What about the students at the nearby secondry schools that McDonalds will no doubt attempt to sway? Paediatrician David McDonald is horrified for that very reason. Tourists and visitors visit the Dandenong Ranges for its unique significance, its a cultural icon, we do not need a McDonalds, there are McDonalds stores everywhere around the Melbourne metropolitan area, how much is enough? They have refused to engage or even listen to us despite our repeated pleas. They don’t care about ruining communities or places that hold special significance, they know only too well that kids are going to nag their parents to stop there as they pass through and that tourists visit all the time in great numbers. They keep peddling lies that they have great support in the community when a doorknock of every household in Tecoma confirms that 90% of Tecoma residents are opposed. They are bullies, no 2 ways about it, profit being their only motive. A bad precedent will be set if this goes ahead, there will be nothing to stop other inappropriate fast food franchises from entering the hills including the quaint little townships of Olinda and Sassafras. The Dandenong Ranges is the backyard of Melbourne and its iconic status must be preserved for present and future generations.
And might I also like to add is there’s historic buildings set to be demolished to make way for this proposal, the old Hazelvale Dairy dating back to the 1920s, which is now Saffron Cottage.
When were these buildings (one of which is condemned) listed on a register of historic buildings? Funny that Saffron Cottage is being forced to appeal the refusal of their planning permit because a member of the Tecoma Village Action Group (who initiated this whole protest!) lodged an objection to their application to build a new venue on land they own in Tecoma?
And Richard, this was all put to VCAT and dismissed as purely emotive and without substance to be considered when ruled under the Planning Act. 5 weeks and construction begins. Unhealthy eating is a result of poor parenting. Learn to say no to your kids! Get your children active and not pc/gaming kids and obesity will be significantly reduced. It’s lazy parenting that results in obesity, not a brand.
The old Hazelvale dairy is an example of a property that
has been denuded of its original aesthetic, stripped of its original
structural integrity and lacking in any outstanding social or historic
importance. For a building to be outstanding, It should support a
definitive architectural style or historical or social value. A
fantastic example of which is the old United Kingdom hotel in Clifton
Hill, Melbourne. Formerly a pub. the building has been saved from
the wreckers and re-purposed into a McDonald’s restaurant.
The building itself is a majestic example of the art deco/streamline
style popular in the early 30’s to early 50’s. The Hazelvale dairy is
from the same era, however it was constructed in a much simpler and
utilitarian style, not dissimilar to countless other commercial
properties still extant around the country, and often in better and more
original condition.
Unfortunately, the old dairy fails to meet
even the most basic of preconditions to be regarded as anything other
that just another old building and in fact, It would be hard to
recognise it as having any real historical relevance whatsoever given
its current condition.
There was likely a time, when the old
United Kingdom hotel in Clifton Hill had replaced an older structure.
It’s because of that development that we now have such a beautiful
example of 30’s art deco architecture. Nobody is suggesting that the
proposed new McDonald’s in Tecoma will be of lasting architectural or
social importance, but is it not beyond belief that people in the
future might look upon that structure as having some intrinsic social or
architectural value, especially considering the efforts the company has
gone to to make the structure as unobtrusive and befitting the
character of the town as possible? After all, there are some that would
argue that the simplistic, industrial design of the old Hazelvale dairy
is worth saving. Why not the ‘old’ McDonald’s?
I find it incredibly interesting that there are so many “FACTS” being spoken of here. One can use the word fact but it holds no weight without evidence. So Lets look at the facts.
Any logical conclusion would have to be evidence based.
The anti anti’s keep calling us who say (NO To McDonalds) the vocal minority, no real backing in the community & abusive threatening activists.
What do we see here?
Several hundred people at a council meeting, Thousands of signatures tabled in parliament, over 3000 people march to protest the development & a FB page with over 5000 members & lets not forget the almost 10,000 people who have supported the Change.org petition.
This is concrete evidence that can be proved.
The opposition have,
no evidence bar a petition which was signed by several people several times each, a FB page which contains offense from one post to the other, a single protester in a not very good Bear suit, and less than 10 people who are prepared to try and convince the world that they are a majority.
Laughable.
578 thousand likes versus your group? Yeah, you keep talking up those HUGE figures Dan/Garry Muratore.. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Saffron-Cottage/156487697714631?ref=ts&fref=ts#!/McDonaldsAU?fref=ts
Ooooh, touched a nerve there did I.. LMAO I hold no policitcal affiliation Garry, unlike yourself and Barbara Crisp? I wonder what the affiliation is and why Barbara Crisp’s name seems to appear around the Vic State Deputy Leader of the Opposition James Merlino MP a fair bit? Love the acknowledgement on Hansard of Thursday, 28 October 2010 by Laura Smyth MP! Must be pretty devoted to score a mention! http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo/search/display/display.w3p;query=Id%3A%22chamber%2Fhansardr%2F2010-10-28%2F0069%22
And it wasnt a bear suit, it was a “onesie”! Get your facts straight! LOL