12/12/12 – A petition with 3775 signatures urging the state government to prevent fast food chains being built in the Dandenong Ranges will be tabled at the Legislative Assembly this week. This follows the commotion over VCAT’s decision to ignore the weight of community objections and thus grant McDonald’s Aust. planning permission to build its first outlet in the Dandenongs. Yarra Ranges Council had originally unanimously rejected McDonald’s application.

The petition was presented to local MP and Labor deputy leader James Merlino at Parliament House on Tuesday. Mr. Merlino, who has long supported the values of the unique tourist attractions and slow food character of the area, stated “My view is there should not be a Maccas in Tecoma. Thousands of people visit and live in the Dandenongs because it is different to the average suburb. Bringing a Maccas will change everything. The next thing we will see is a KFC in Belgrave, a Hungry Jacks in Monbulk and a Red Rooster in Olinda”

Spokesperson for one of the larger residents’ groups opposing McDonald’s gaining a foothold in the Dandenongs, Garry Muratore, warned that the outrage that had erupted is only the tip of the iceberg. “This petition is not just about the cultural impact of a massive 24/7 outlet on a sleepy Hills village, nor traffic congestion, nor the proposed outlet being opposite a kinder and a primary school. It’s about the voice of the people being ignored by VCAT’s blinkered parameters. When record letters of objection to council, record attendance at council meetings and massive numbers of residents involved in the VCAT appeal … when all this and more are basically disregarded by the developer-friendly terms of reference of VCAT, then parliament shouldn’t be surprised that residents are now up in arms.”

Mr. Muratore stated that, in the four months until the proposed outlet can be built, thousands of residents are participating in activities to send McDonald’s the message that they’re not welcome. “In response to the refusal by McDonald’s Australian CEO, Catriona Noble, to meet with state Planning Minister, Matthew Guy to discuss his concerns, Ms. Noble opened her inbox last week to receive 580 emails from those not at all pleased with her arrogance” said Mr. Muratore. “We’re now receiving messages of support from around Australia and are in the process of linking up with other similar groups to form a Green Arches Alliance.”

Excerpt from Hansard yesterday (12/12/12) when the petition was presented in Parliament by James Merlino.

State Deputy Opposition Leader James Merlino

Planning: Tecoma fast-food outlet
To the Legislative Assembly of Victoria:

The petition of residents of the Dandenong Ranges and other citizens of Victoria draws to the attention of the house the approval given by VCAT (Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal) to permit a fast-food convenience outlet to be built in the small township of Tecoma, despite the council of the Yarra Ranges Shire refusing the permit after over 1100 objections were submitted to council and over 300 submissions being presented to VCAT by objectors.

We also draw to the attention of the house:
– The restaurant is to be a 24/7 drive-through and is totally inappropriate for this location. Tecoma’s businesses are all shut by 11 p.m;
– the increase in traffic will impact on the roads in the immediate vicinity;
– these will both impact on the amenity of the local residents;
once this restaurant is built in Tecoma, the precedent has been set and this chain, and others, will then be able to be developed in the Dandenong Ranges;
– this unique tourist area, famous for its slow-food character, will then be destroyed forever.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly urges the Baillieu government to do everything in its power to provide legislation that will prevent further fast-food chains being built in the Dandenong Ranges.
By MrMERLINO (Monbulk)

If McDonalds fails to listen to community concerns about building opposite a pre-school and primary school they could be responsible for the children of that school having shorter lives.

So says the prominent NSW paediatrician leading the public battle against junk food being peddled to children. Dr. David MacDonald, who came to Tecoma last week to speak with members of the No MacDonalds in the Dandenong Ranges Coalition and local GP Dr Dennis Gration, was scathing in his attack on the decision to allow McDonald’s to build in such close proximity to vulnerable children.

Dr. MacDonald is a Senior Staff Specialist Paediatrician at Port Macquarie Base Hospital in NSW and is a Senior Lecturer in Paediatrics at the University of NSW. He was a member of a recent campaign that was successful in stopping a McDonald’s outlet being built next to a school complex in that city. “There is impressive epidemiological evidence that close proximity of fast food restaurants to schools may increase the obesity rate in children attending the schools” he stated.

According to a 2011 Victorian Government study 8% of children aged 5-17 years were classified as obese in the August 2007 to June 2008 period, with a further 17% classified as being overweight. This is of concern as about 80% of obese adolescents become obese adults. Another study demonstrated that those who are either overweight or obese are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease, increased blood pressure and type 2 Diabetes.

Dr. MacDonald also pointed to a recent landmark American study of over 500, 000 children linking the issue of obesity to children who attended school which was within 500 metres of a fast food outlet.

Dr. MacDonald slammed the motives of a fellow doctor, Dr. Joel Freeman, who was responsible for selling the land to McDonald’s. Dr. McDonald said it should be part of the role as a paediatrician to tackle the rising obesity rates.

“I think that with the nature of our profession, we should be very cautious in our association with fast food outlets. The obesity epidemic has parallels with the tobacco epidemic. I do not believe I should stand by and watch a development which I consider may be harmful to children without a vigorous attempt to defend the health of those children. It feels like a very unequal battle – a handful of locals versus one of the world’s largest corporate giants”

He called on planners to assist the pressure on parents “It is not about parents (having to take responsibility by) saying no to their children but more about urban design”. Laws banning advertising of cigarettes and plain packaging have come too late for many therefore health promoting councils and urban planners have an urgent responsibility to ensure that places such as McDonalds are not built anywhere close to schools.

Unlike Woolworths, McDonalds do not appear to be listening to the communities concerns about the health and welfare of our children. Woolworths recently delisted a potentially harmful product after protests from their customers. McDonalds are risking a backlash in Australia if not worldwide if they fail to listen to the concerns of the people in the Dandenong Ranges.

“We’ve listened to our concerned customers and made the decision to delist the Bebi® organic White Grape fruit drink and Bebi® organic Apple and Banana fruit drink from our range and it will come off our shelves over coming weeks.”

Coverage in Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local

The following story Doctors unite in a bid to stop McDonalds building opposite Tecoma school on Dr McDonald’s opposition to the McDonalds in Tecoma and his meeting with local GP Dr Dennis Gration was included in the email newsletter sent out by the Eastern Melbourne Medicare Local (EMML) network to all GP’s in the Eastern Melbourne Region. It is also hosted on their website.

Photo of Dr MacDonald and local GP Dr Dennis Gration