McDonald’s green-lit for ‘world’s coolest street’ after fast food giant’s appeal

A 24/7 McDonald’s has been green-lit for “the world’s coolest street” after the fast-food giant won an appeal against an inner-north council, despite concerns it will hurt small businesses and tarnish the area’s “cool vibes”.

The Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) on Friday overturned a decision by Darebin City Council in November to block the development at 323 High Street, Northcote, finding that concerns the McDonald’s would erode the strip’s cultural identity, harm independent businesses and sell unhealthy food were not relevant to the planning application.

VCAT member Michael Deidun said the planning system in Victoria was “somewhat blind to the final operator” and that the planned McDonald’s could not be denied on the grounds that a multinational fast food restaurant might not fit with the street’s current stock of independent vendors.

“This tribunal does not have the power to review the corporate approach of McDonald’s, its work practices and ethics, the type of food it produces, its impact on human health, or whether it fits the ‘cool’ vibes of its context,” Deidun said.

The tribunal also found against objections by the council and residents who said increased delivery truck traffic could imperil pedestrians and delivery drivers, that the restaurant should not operate 24/7 and that “rooftop equipment” atop the outlet would be visible from the street.

A “convenience restaurant” is generally only permitted to operate between the hours of 6am and 3am, but the tribunal approved McDonald’s bid to open 24/7 because it added just three hours of trading and is in an area where “late night activity is encouraged” and which allows for the “vibrant mixed use of commercial centres”.

The tribunal also ruled against residents’ concerns that tinting the glass at the storefront and building a rear car park may decrease surveillance and safety in the area.

Following a recent visit to the building, which had been disused since it was gutted by a fire in 2023, Deidun said it was evidently targeted by trespassers and vandals, and that he felt unsafe entering due to the uninviting public walkway. Deidun ruled that turning the site into a round-the-clock restaurant would increase surveillance and safety.

Franc de Petro, who lives off High Street and runs a local Facebook group with 20,000 members, said he was disappointed with the VCAT decision.

He said locals and visitors loved how that section of High Street was home to small and family-run businesses, and were worried that the McDonald’s could take patrons away from them.

“But for me, it’s more about the feel of the area, it’s the fact that McDonald’s will sort of disrupt the way that street has evolved,” de Petro said. “This will be the first franchise that will go in there.”

He added: “I think the locals in the area, the majority won’t want it. I think the people that will want it are probably the ones that don’t live in the area, that are either visiting a live music venue or a bar.”

Time Out magazine listed High Street – which runs through Northcote, Thornbury and Preston – as No.1 on its “world’s coolest street” rankings in 2024.

A petition in July last year against the development attracted more than 11,000 signatures.

The council’s decision to knock back the permit application in November went against the advice of council officers – and three councillors – who said McDonald’s had a right to use the commercially zoned site and that it could cost tens of thousands to defend at VCAT.

In a written statement, McDonald’s welcomed VCAT’s decision and said the application had been fairly and rightly assessed on its merits.

“The restaurant will be owned and operated by a local franchisee, who will contribute to the local area through employment, access to training and development opportunities, and supporting local community organisations,” the company said.

“We look forward to joining Northcote and playing an active role in the local community when the restaurant opens later this year.”

Darebin City Council was contacted for comment.

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