McDonald’s has launched a tribunal challenge following Darebin Council refusal of support for a new all night restaurant on High Street with residents stating that McDonald’s is an unfit addition to Melbourne’s coolest street.
McDonald’s Australia is pursuing proceedings with the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) in an effort to reverse Darebin Council’s refusal of its application to establish a 24 hour eatery on Northcote High Street.
The location chosen has been identified as a burnt down shell of a disused building at 323 High Street, known as a strip renowned for its independent hospitality establishments and live music events and has been voted the world’s coolest street in the year 2024.
In November, the council voted 6:3 to refuse a application for a change to an existing permit contrary to a recommendation of council officials, where the relevant planning use was deemed limited and the land was already zoned properly.
That conflict between what the planning scheme formally allows and what a community wants is about to go to the state major merits review tribunal in planning cases.
In their application, McDonald’s claims that their business will neither create unacceptable traffic conditions nor impact adversely upon the appearance of the building.
Commenting on their application a spokesperson for McDonald’s Australia said, “We believe there is great potential in Northcote, so we instituted these proceedings so that a reasonable assessment would be made.”
The firm has relied quite heavily on the fact that the site has a commercial zoning and that the proposal meets the planning criteria, thereby playing down the cultural connotations within the community.
Not long ago the firm indicated that the investment the restaurant represents, which exceeds $2 million will create over 100 local jobs.
The issue according to the opponents is not limited to the buildings. The argument is that the 24 hour McDonald’s will transform the district because it will bring car traffic, deliveries and loitering into the area since the location is already busy with trams, cycling, and pedestrians.
Northcote resident Salar Tavakoli, who told Nine he intended to object to the appeal said High Street’s identity had been built by local operators not chains. “Dropping a massive McDonald’s into that ecosystem does not fit,” he said.
More than 110 objections were lodged before the council decision and a petition against the plan attracted more than 11,000 signatures, reflecting a level of mobilization which it is often difficult for local governments to translate into enforceable planning grounds.
Darebin Council has confirmed it is a party to the VCAT proceeding and says objectors were notified. The matter is listed for a compulsory conference on January 14 with a hearing scheduled for April 14 to 17, 2026.
