- Mitchell Toy From: Sunday Herald Sun February 27, 2011
More than 600 residents objected to plans for a McDonald's outlet in Knoxfield. Source: HWT Image Library
McDONALD'S has been forced to ditch plans for an outlet in Knoxfield after residents won a David and Goliath court battle to keep the fast-food giant off their turf.
A VCAT ruling this month upheld a decision by Knox City Council to refuse a permit to construct the eatery on the corner of Ferntree Gully and Kathryn roads, ending a 15-month legal battle.
More than 600 residents voiced their objection through a petition to council.
VCAT arbitrator Laurie Hewet ruled the outlet's impact on surrounding properties through increased traffic and late trading hours outweighed the economic benefit it could bring to the area.
"The nature of this site's residential interfaces and its broader residential context ... has led me to conclude that this proposal is not acceptable for this site," Mr Hewet stated.
Knoxfield resident Michael Colling, who led calls to have the junk-food giant banished, said the campaign was not meant to be anti-McDonald's.
"It is clear that the site is too close to residences and has been chosen because of the skate park across the road," Mr Colling said.
"As a youth worker, I have seen young people cross that road and it can be dangerous.
"It would happen far more if the restaurant was there."
But a Facebook group administered by Mr Colling, rallying residents behind the push to have the restaurant barred, said residents feared "bogans in their 'doof doof' cars all hours of the night, rubbish all over the place and the stench of fries and fake meat wafting through our streets."
, with Mr Colling now hoping the site will become a childcare centre or kindergarten.
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