Darebin Council rejects plan for fast-food restaurant on ‘world’s coolest street’

More than 11,000 people signed an online petition calling the McDonald’s “plainly unnecessary” for Northcote, citing concerns about litter, traffic congestion and the impact on small businesses.

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“Northcote is renowned for its local charm and community-based spirit and stands out with its balanced blend of local businesses and small franchises,” it said.

“The development of a McDonald’s on High Street will – plainly put – tip the balance in the wrong direction.”

Andy Miller, a Darebin resident who presented to the council meeting on Monday, also expressed concern about the fast food outlet’s negative health effects.

“Golden Arches everywhere erode local character and identity, replacing distinct food cultures with global uniformity,” he added.

“There are already three McDonald’s stores only eight minutes away from the site. This store will openly cannibalise the economic and social capital built by the Northcote community over many years.”

Deputy Mayor Emily Dimitriadis also noted the proposed McDonald’s was close to a school and kindergarten.

“This McDonald’s will be the first multinational food chain on the strip, likely paving the way for more of the type,” Dimitriadis told Monday night’s meeting.

However, councillors Vasilios Tsalkos, Matt Arturi and Kristine Olaris voted against the motion to block the restaurant.

“I don’t particularly think that it is a good idea to put a McDonald’s in the middle of Northcote,” Arturi said. “But … the planning grounds that we have before us are very limited, if they exist at all.”

Council officers also found the proposed McDonald’s works would “significantly improve” the currently dilapidated building, which was an arcade in the 1980s.

Darebin council sold the land to local businessman Akram El-Fahkri’s company in 2006 for $2.5 million, property records show, and a covenant still requires landowners to maintain a public walkway along the site’s edge to a car park.