Number crunching

By CASEY NEILL
TECOMA residents have taken to the streets in their fight against McDonald’s.
More than 30 volunteers braved wet and chilly conditions on 5 June to count traffic near the burger giant’s proposed restaurant site on Burwood Highway.
Yarra Ranges Council last October rejected Maccas’ planning application for the block currently home to Hippie Haven Music Café and Indian restaurant Saffron Cottage.
But the restaurant chain is appealing the decision. The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) will hear the case from 6 to 13 August.
Tecoma Village Action Group (TVAG) vice president David Jewell said traffic counters covered every intersection near the proposed development, including driveways into the site and the service station opposite, and nearby Sandells, McNicol, and Glenfern roads.
A traffic engineer is now examining the figures and preparing a report. Objectors will argue that the drive-though restaurant would create traffic chaos as well as damage neighbourhood character and amenity through its scale and appearance.
TVAG has lighting, landscaping, and noise experts assisting with its arguments but is still appealing for an acoustics expert and another traffic engineer to come forward.
“Part of problem is we need professional people,” Mr Jewell said.
“Their livelihood is dealing with issues like this – most of the time with people like McDonald’s.”
He feared experts were reluctant to oppose Maccas and risk damaging their careers.
But community members certainly aren’t afraid to stand up to the golden arches.
Ms Jewell said community dedication to opposing the development hasn’t wavered.
“If anything, it’s expanding as more and more people hear about it,” he said.
“I reckon we’ve got a good go because the area that they’ve chosen is inappropriate for that size of development.”
He said TVAG had been “keeping an eye on” other McDonald’s hearings – one saw a barrister and three solicitors taking on a single neighbour.
“That’s the level of power that they think is necessary,” he said.
“We’ve got right on our side – we don’t need might.”
Visit www.tvag.org.au or www.nomaccasinthehills.info to join the fight.