A GROUP of North Orange residents have stepped up their campaign to stop fast food giant McDonald’s opening a takeaway restaurant in their area.
A GROUP of North Orange residents have stepped up their campaign to stop fast food giant McDonald’s opening a takeaway restaurant in their area.
The residents will stage a second community meeting tonight to rally opposition to the plan and work out a strategy in the lead-up to Orange City Council’s Sustainable Development Committee (SDC) meeting in April.
At the SDC meeting council will make a decision on whether the development, on the corner of Telopea Way and Farrell Road, will proceed.
Meeting organiser Susan White says it is important people concerned about having a McDonald’s in their area act now before it is too late.
“I really think it’s an inappropriate place to be putting it,” she said.
“If the traffic congestion that’s already there has to be fixed they would need to use that block of land.”
Mrs White said if McDonald’s did get the go ahead, it would only add to the congestion.
She is also concerned the fast food restaurant will be too close to young families and two child care centres, amid growing rates of obesity.
“Some people will see this as a quick fix [meal] on the way home,” she said.
“I know why they [McDonald’s] want to put it there and I do think it’s a big issue.”
Mrs While also thinks the development will lower house prices in the immediate area.
“Who would want to buy a house next to a McDonald’s drive through?” she said.
Mrs White said some residents had already held a private meeting with an Orange councillor, who they declined to name, who had pledged his support and suggested ways the campaigners might oppose the development.
Mrs White said she had personally invited several concerned locals to tonight’s meeting at 5.30pm at 19 Pearl Court.
tracey.prisk@fairfaxmedia.com.
