By Tyler Wright
Despite the Mcdonalds opening in Tecoma more than eight years ago after bitter resistance from the local community, protestors are still fighting against the fast food giant.
Honks and yells from drivers passing by rang loud outside the McDonald’s store on Burwood Highway on Thursday 1 September in response to four protestors waving a banner and placards with messages including ‘we voted NO to McDonald’s in Tecoma’ and ‘this is our home, we are not leaving’.
“It’s just to remind them of what they did all those years ago. They were not welcome, and they are still not welcome,” Upwey resident and protester Peter Saunders said.
In 2011, Yarra Ranges Council councillors voted unanimously to refuse a planning permit submitted by McDonald’s, for this decision to then be overturned by the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on the grounds the plans did not contravene the state or local planning scheme.
Some 1,300 objections to the development were lodged with Yarra Ranges Council at the time.
In its decision, VCAT noted the fifteen grounds of refusal submitted in Yarra Ranges Council’s notice of refusal, including ‘failure to achieve landscaping objectives, the design response, traffic and parking concerns and adverse amenity impacts on neighbours.’
Tecoma resident Karl Williams was part of the group known as the ‘Tecoma Eight’ named in court documents filed by McDonald’s for an injunction against them for creating a community garden on the building site in protest.
While proceedings were eventually dropped, Karl has not given up the fight; regularly protesting in a group of five hills locals, reminding passers by of their stance.
“We had daily protests even after the build for years, and we’re still continuing every fortnight without fail,” Karl said.
“We get a symphony of toots of support from locals every fortnight… we hate everything [McDonald’s] stands for.”
Garry Muratore was part of the ‘No McDonald’s in the Dandenong Ranges’ campaign at the time, and said while the community was not able to stop the store being built, the group is “proud” of what it has achieved since.
“It’s very hard to get a permit for a drive through type restaurant anywhere in the Dandenong Ranges now, because it’s got to fit in with the local overlay, and the people that lobbied for that were from our campaign, so that was a big plus,” Garry said.
“The Liberal-National Coalition (LNP) brought in the move on laws, which were designed to basically give police power to move on peaceful protesters.
“We lobbied the incoming Labor government and the move on laws were dropped so people can peacefully protest and this not only effects community protests, but effects unions.”
In a statement to the Star Mail, McDonald’s Australia said in its time in Tecoma for nearly 10 years, it has played a role in “providing jobs and opportunities for hundreds of residents, and investing back into the community through a number of key partnerships”.
“McDonald’s Tecoma is a proud partner of the Upwey-Tecoma Senior and Junior Football and Netball Clubs, the Upwey-Tecoma Cricket Club and the Belgrave Football Netball Club,” the statement read.
“Our crew conduct daily litter patrols around the restaurant and we encourage our customers to dispose of their rubbish responsibly.
“McDonald’s is a founding partner of Clean Up Australia Day, and has been helping to tackle litter in communities for more than 30 years.”
