Latest news with #JamieVachon
News.com.au
14-07-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
Surprising Macca's trend sweeping Australia
Aussies across the country are rallying against a string of new McDonald's restaurants in both inner city and regional towns, in what has been described as a 'movement'. Among high-profile campaigns against a venue on the 'coolest street' in Melbourne and several in Sydney, locals in small hamlets are also opposing the Golden Arches. There were 16 petitions listed on over the past few years where residents have voiced concerns over the impact of such developments on local character, safety and small businesses. For some, the opposition to these projects was more about logistics than a rejection of big business. Jamie Vachon this year started a petition against a 24/7 restaurant in Sydney's north shore, telling its location on Willoughby Road, Crows Nest was a major concern. 'I think if McDonald's was trying to open near the new Metro (station) we wouldn't be talking about it,' he said. 'My petition was specifically about the fact that they were pushing to be open 24/7. Which is a big issue in Crows Nest because nothing's open (late), except for the Crows Nest Hotel. So that could just cause chaos. 'It's right next to residential units … they're not going to have toilets. There's just a lot that screams it's going to be a bit of a disaster.' Other campaigns were being waged in Ipswich, Queensland, the rural town of Kyneton near Victoria's Dandenong Ranges and at Coffs Harbour on NSW's mid-north coast. Amy Kidd, who campaigned against a McDonald's at Mount Evelyn in Victoria's Yarra Ranges, said opposition 'grew rapidly' in her community. More than 300 people wrote to the local council, which eventually blocked the plans for an outlet that was to be opened in a residential area. 'We are a community that values our town character, small businesses, and our local environment. A fast food restaurant is a threat to all of those things,' she said. 'Our win shows just how powerful communities can be when they come together. 'The site is up for sale again, and we will be keeping a close eye on any new development proposals.' There were already more than 1000 McDonald's stores across Australia in 2024, which according to the company employed more than 100,000 people. The City of Sydney's independent panel recently rejected a proposed $3 venue at inner city Redfern after locals and NSW Police both wrote submissions against it. Members of the Redfern's indigenous community also raised concerns about the offering undermining public health outcomes. Plans lodged with the same council appear to show a McDonald's was being planned for hipster haven King St, Newtown – an area traditionally against major fast-food chains. It would be located next door to local favourite Clems, a chicken shop opened back in 1982. Residents and businesses in inner north Melbourne suburb Northcote have spoken out to slam plans for a McDonald's on the suburb's main street, which was voted the 'coolest street in the world' by Time Out last year. Northcote Business Association president Andrew Mansfield said a Maccas on High St would 'change the tone of what we are', and local Franc de Petro said it was 'unfathomable'. 'High Street … has zero multinational franchise outlets and has plenty of locally run food outlets, many doing burgers of various kinds,' he told The Age. 'It just doesn't fit in or make any sense for Northcote.' McDonald's Australia has been contacted for comment. Dr Sisi Jia from the University of Sydney said changing characters of neighbourhoods was one thing – another was the health impact of increasing cheap and available fast food. 'There's a whole topic in public health research called food environments,' she said. 'So what foods are available, accessible, affordable to people. 'And so the concern with opening up a lot of these restaurants in neighbourhoods is increasing people's access and therefore their consumption of these foods.' Data from market research firm IBISWorld estimated McDonald's Australian sales to be $5.7 billion in 2024-2025, rising from $5.4 billion in 2023-2024. Finder's Consumer Sentiment Tracker has found 60 per cent of Australia's spent money on food delivery or takeaway in July, with the average Aussie spending $83 per week. However, IBISWorld's research also showed McDonald's market share dropped from 21.5 per cent in June 2022 to 19.3 per cent by the same time this year. 'While absolute sales figures might be rising, it is anticipated that McDonald's is losing market share to other fast food providers in Australia,' IBISWorld Industry team leader Disha Jeswanth said, adding Guzman y Gomez had proven be a 'major emerging competitor'. Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said he understood community concerns about fast food outlets but a 'blanket ban might not be the best option. 'To offer some context, it is increasingly difficult for people to find places to dine late at night and to a large extent that vacuum has been filled by fast food chains,' Mr Nicolaou said. 'So, the question is how you get the balance right where people can exercise choice, remembering also that fast food chains also support many jobs.' He said 'with a bit of imagination' councils and fast-food chains could find 'solutions that provide consumer choice without disruption to local communities'. A spokesperson for McDonald's Australia said: 'McDonald's has been part of Sydney communities since 1971, when we opened our very first Australian restaurant in the Western Sydney suburb of Yagoona. Since then, our business has grown alongside the communities we serve and we proudly employ more than 115,000 people, serve up a locally sourced Australian menu and support hundreds of community groups and causes across our 1,050 restaurants, nationwide. 'As we continue to grow, we're delivering more new restaurants, creating tens of thousands of new jobs, recruiting new franchisees, increasing our spend with our Aussie supply chain, and investing in more innovative ways to deliver great value, convenience, and a great customer experience. 'We are committed to engaging with Councils and communities to ensure we're listening to feedback and submitting development applications for restaurants that are thoughtfully designed for the community. This includes limiting the impact of common concerns such as traffic, noise, and waste, and promoting our potential to contribute as a local employer and a business committed to giving back to the neighbourhood. 'We are excited by the possibility of joining the Newtown community. A new Macca's in Newtown represents an investment of around $2 million and will mean more than 100 new local jobs and more support for local community groups in the area.'
News.com.au
25-06-2025
- Business
- News.com.au
24/7 McDonald's ruffles resident's feathers in Sydney's North Shore
A ritzy suburb is up in arms over a proposed 24/7 McDonald's. Crows Nest residents — on Sydney's North Shore — have hit back at a development application lodged by the fast food giant to convert a former Westpac bank into an around-the-clock operation. Sitting at 31 Willoughby Road, the $2.65 million development would include a complete internal transformation, the iconic golden arch signage, and external reconfigurations, all while becoming the fourth McDonald' s within a 2km radius. Longtime resident Jamie Vachon said it is not the outlet itself that is the concern, but the 24/7 operations, which he claims will bring 'security concerns, noise and trash'. 'My first reaction was that we don't need a McDonalds,' he told 'I've lived in Crows Nest since 2009, and in the North Sydney Council area since 2002. 'We have many locally owned restaurants that serve amazing burgers and such … but then again, we have an Oporto, Ogalo, Subway, and Grill'd so chain restaurants aren't new to the area,' Mr Vachon added. 'We were a bit shocked to learn that it was proposed to open in the previous Westpac branch, but when we learned that the proposal was for 24/7 operation, that's when I got active.' Upon reviewing the development application documents, Mr Vachon discovered North Sydney Council had already shut down the request for around-the-clock operations in pre-planning meetings – ignored by the McDonald's proposal, which reapplied to run 24 hours. 'There is nothing that operates those hours in Crows Nest and all businesses close by midnight, bar one, the Crows Nest Hotel,' he said. 'The location and hours are clearly designed to serve customers from that venue – the drunk and unruly customers.' Mr Vachon said there had been no community consultation from the fast food chain nor the council, having heard about the DA via word of mouth. 'It's not so much that it's a Maccas, it's the location and hours,' he added. 'The Crows Nest Hotel employs many security staff just to operate late and a McDonalds won't be set up to manage in the same way. 'It'll bring security concerns, noise, trash, and other issues to the area at a time when everything else is closed. 'As well, the area around Zig Zag Lane (which has been designated as the delivery and waste collection point) is notorious for rats and this will only make those problems far worse. 'Local businesses will have to deal with the fallout each morning because a large corporation just wants to muscle its way in and serve drunk people throughout the night.' These concerns were echoed by a local restaurant and bar owner, who asked to remain anonymous. He said a McDonald's in Crows Nest, a community he has been a part of for over a decade, is against 'what makes us special'. 'I felt even putting a McDonald's in with local owned businesses is completely against what I love about our community,' he told 'It's a step closer to becoming just like every other train station (suburb) in Sydney. 'I would like to see McDonald's stick to St Leonards and leave Crows Nest to what it does best. We are losing what made us special. 'There are enough McDonald's within a short distance.' The restaurateur said he had been working with other local businesses closely to oppose the development, citing concerns about vandalism and an increase in unruly clientele. 'I don't think it will impact my business financially but think it will increase vandalism and break-ins,' he added. 'Other businesses owners feel the same, the increase in delivery on bikes will cause accidents on footpaths and roads. 'At no time was anyone asked about this proposal and it is opposed by almost all owners in the area. 'The increase in bored teenagers that will gather looking for things to do will be looked at and we are talking about organising security for the first time – the security will be needed and change the friendly atmosphere of the area.' A petition started by Mr Vachon has already racked up close to 500 signatures. Forty-five submissions have been made to Council opposing the move. North Sydney Council said it recognises there are community concerns about the application. 'We will review and consider submissions made during the notification period, in accordance with s4.15 of the EP & A Act 1979,' a spokesperson told McDonald's Australia told it hoped to become a 'welcome member of the community'. 'We are continuing to work through the Development Application process with the North Sydney Council,' it said. 'McDonald's has been a part of North Sydney communities for more than 30 years, providing hundreds of local jobs and supporting local community groups. 'If approved, a Macca's in Crows Nest will create more than 100 new local jobs and create opportunities for community partnerships and sponsorships and involve an investment of approximately $2.6 million.' It refused to comment on North Sydney Council's dismissal of the proposed 24/7 operations. It's not the first time the fast food giant has tried to extend their presence in the area. In 2022, plans by McDonald's to permanently extend the opening hours of the St Leonards' outlet were shut down by disgruntled residents. The company stated the move would provide 'an ongoing essential service to the community', including those working at the nearby Royal North Shore Hospital and train passengers.
