Last night our campaign made a presentation to a council meeting outlining a range of concerns that the council need to address. The council are yet to address the recent breaches of permit conditions regarding construction hours (which were consistently ignored in a rush to open the store) and the illegal attempt to install “blade” signage higher than mandated by VCAT. Also presented was our google litter map to illustrate the litter spread the Tecoma store has caused. Naturally issues such as light pollution, smell and traffic were also addressed. Below is a copy of a press release that was distributed immediately after the meeting
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“COUNCIL MUST ACT”
A vigilant community catches a greedy corporation out as they attempt to break VCAT conditions and council by-laws
Tecoma, Dandenong Ranges 13/5/14: At tonight’s Yarra Ranges Council meeting, the No McDonalds in the Dandenongs (NMITDR) group have called on the council to act on various breaches of VCAT conditions and council by-laws in the rush to open the controversial store.
Last month in what can only be described as an outrageous display of corporate arrogance, McDonald’s was caught “red handed” attempting to install high visibility signage 25% higher than the mandated VCAT conditions allowed at their controversial Tecoma store. Although the illegal signage did not go ahead it is believed that the Yarra Ranges Council have yet to act on this breach. NMITDR Campaign spokesperson Garry Muratore told the council “If they were prepared to break this important VCAT condition, how many other conditions have possibly been broken and not yet bought to the council’s attention”
Muratore also pointed out that in the last week of construction McDonald’s building contractor operated out of permit hours including an entire Sunday despite many in the community bringing the breaches to the council’s attention. “The council needs to act, if by-laws were broken then McDonald’s needs to face the same consequences as anyone else on the community” said Muratore
The council presentation also included issues such as litter, smell and light pollution that are yet to be addressed properly by the council. The community are also concerned over insufficient line markings on Burwood Highway and the problem of McDonald’s customers making illegal right turns into traffic when leaving the store.
Muratore went on to say “The store is obviously operating below expectations due to the community effectively turning its back on the franchise, however if the store was to achieve customer targets then the issues raised at tonight’s council meeting would only get worse and will need to be urgently addressed by the council”
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About No McDonalds In The Dandenong Ranges: No McDonalds In The Hills (aka No Maccas In The Hills or No Maccas In Tecoma) is a grassroots community lobby group opposed the establishment of a McDonalds franchise being established and operated in Tecoma and the surrounding Dandenong Ranges. The group is made up from a comprehensive cross section of the community based in and around the Tecoma village area. The group’s charter is to lobby the relevant government bodies whilst providing the general community with information on an on-going basis via local and national media, Social media channels, newsletters and town hall style meetings. The group has enormous support from almost the entire ranges community as well as similar communities from all over Australia who have found themselves in a similar situation(s) due to inappropriate development and corporate bullying by multi-national organisations who wish to defy local democratic decisions. Further information can be obtained from the group’s website www.burgeroff.org. or the campaign’s Facebook page:
