Former hills resident and campaign supporter Tom Fairman made this post over on No Maccas in the Hills. We are reposting it here with his permission as he raises some interesting points from the linked article.

I thought the below article was a good analysis of development arguments. While not entirely related to the Maccas issue – they’re talking more about resource development – it does talk about what “good” decision making is with development issues. And I’d easily say the McDonalds in Tecoma showed themselves to fail on all accounts. Have a read!
“An unfair process is one where a decision is imposed on a community. When this happens, communities become resentful, relationships are strained, and divisions appear. Introducing a community consultation process after a decision has been made, as seems to have been the case with the Uriarra solar farm, is akin to closing the stable door after the horse has bolted. The damage has been done and people feel insulted. Governments and corporations should not make decisions behind closed doors, even if they are “apparent decisions”, and still expect to bring the community with them.”
http://theconversation.com/calling-people-nimbys-wont-stop-development-arguments-25715