Ronald round up

By CASEY NEILL
TECOMA’S anti-Maccas campaigners are calling on as many people as possible to attend the VCAT hearing which will consider the restaurant’s planning application.
They’ll take their fight against the golden arches to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal hearing on 6 August and want all opponents to attend in order to put a face to their objection.
Tecoma Village Action Group (TVAG) and No Maccas in the Hills are calling on as many community members as possible to attend as many VCAT hearing days as they can to show their opposition to the McDonald’s restaurant proposed for 1529 Burwood Highway, Tecoma.
Yarra Ranges Council last October rejected Maccas’ planning application for the block which is currently home to Hippie Haven Music Café and Indian restaurant Saffron Cottage.
But just before Christmas the restaurant chain decided to appeal the decision to VCAT.
Objectors will argue that the drive-though restaurant would create traffic chaos in Tecoma as well as damage neighbourhood character and amenity through its scale and appearance.
Claire Ferres Miles from No Maccas in the Hills and David Jewell from TVAG issued a joint statement last week.
“The community has worked tirelessly to voice their opposition to this development, put in hundreds of unpaid, after-hours work, and fundraised to mount this battle,” they said.
The council received more than 1000 objections to the development. These will stand at VCAT alongside more than 300 individual objections lodged directly with the tribunal.
“Now is the time to pack the public gallery at the tribunal and show the faces behind the words,” they said.
“The faces that represent the everyday lives that will be impacted by this type of development.”
A traffic engineer examined figures more than 30 volunteer traffic counters collected last month to prepare a report, and lighting, landscaping, and noise experts are also assisting objectors with their arguments.
“I reckon we’ve got a good go because the area that they’ve chosen is inappropriate for that size of development,” Mr Jewell said.
The groups also created an online pledged designed to “warn” the burger giant off building in the hills.
It states: “We the undersigned give our solemn pledge that we will not patronise any McDonald’s outlet should one be built in Tecoma or anywhere in the Dandenong Ranges. “We will encourage our family and friends to support our decision with their actions.”
McDonald’s spokeswoman Laura Keith said the chain was “sensitive to the views raised by members of the local community” but knew there was also support among the community.
“We believe that our application met council planning requirements,” she said.
“It also considered and addressed areas of concern raised by the community around traffic, noise and litter.
“We also believe that like any local business person, a local McDonald’s licensee should be given a reasonable opportunity to open their own business and contribute to the community.”
The tribunal hearings will be held from 6 to 13 August between 10am and 4pm at VCAT, 55 King Street, Melbourne. Many supporters will join together to travel to the city by train.
Lyster Ward councillor Samantha Dunn encouraged community members to attend.
“It’s a great way to show the tribunal that you care about this development and don’t want it to go ahead,” she said.
“The energy and commitment to fighting this has been phenomenal.”
Email nomaccas2012@gmail.com or visit nomaccasinthehills.info for more information.