"Disgusting": Mount Evelyn locals hit back at the “investment potential” of a fast-food outlet
Locals are concerned what the future of the site holds, as they face a nervous wait to see who the new owners may be.
Matthew Sims
June 12, 2025
Months after VCAT upheld Yarra Ranges Council’s decision to refuse a McDonald’s in Mount Evelyn, a new listing of the site has reignited concerns the area could still become a fast-food outlet under new developers.
Currently housing Pro Futsal Mount Evelyn, commercial real estate agencies Burgess Rawson and Teska Carson have put the site at 19-23 Hereford Road out for expressions of interest, with the developers ditching the site after McDonald’s left the deal.
The background
Developers submitted planning permits to Yarra Ranges Council for a 24/7 McDonald’s restaurant and an adjacent childcare centre in December 2023.
Soon after, locals quickly united to form the No McDonald’s in Mount Evelyn group, which currently has more than 1,200 members on Facebook.
The council refused the joint application in July 2024, arguing the operation of a 24-hour restaurant would not be appropriate within a neighbourhood residential zone, with concerns around the potential noise, light pollution and traffic impacts.
The developers then disputed the council’s decision in VCAT, with VCAT upholding the council’s decision in relation to the McDonald’s proposal in December 2024.
The developers have now put the site up for sale with an indicative price of $4.75 million, with expressions of interest set to close on Wednesday, July 2.
Ad spruiks fast-food opportunities
According to the listing, a development scheme would be included in the sale, outlining how to propose another fast-food outlet in addition to an already permitted childcare centre.
Covering a total of 5,014 square metres, the land currently includes the existing 3,827-square-metre building, housing a large ground floor recreation centre/warehouse, first floor permitted medical centre or office and a three-bedroom apartment.
The listing highlighted a “strong investment potential with enormous rental upside possible”, with other uses including “owner occupation, residential, medical, recreation, aged care and hospitality (subject to council approval).”
Fast-food outlets and other eateries and restaurants are located about 400 metres away from the proposed development.
What has been the response from locals?
Ben Kowalski has been living in Mount Evelyn for more than 35 years and was among the key campaigners against the proposed McDonald's development.
“Our main concern is primarily the impact to the neighbouring properties’ amenity, both behind the current Futsal Centre and the residents on Hereford Road, due to the traffic impact and the environmental implications a development with convenience restaurant facilities will cause to the local area,” he told the Eastern Melburnian.
“Mount Evelyn’s pretty unique.”
Kowalski said the group were in support of delivering additional housing opportunities in the land instead of another fast food stop in the town.
“I don’t think you’d get a lot of opposition to it,” he said.
No McDonald’s in Mount Evelyn committee member and former president of the Mount Evelyn Environment Protection and Progress Association (MEEPPA) Clare Worsnop has lived in the town for about 40 years but said the last thing it needed was another fast food option.
“We don’t actually need any more fast food in the area,” she said.
“I think it is detrimental to the character.
“It’s much more important that we have healthy eating and places to live.”
Worsnop said with nearby Tecoma recently failing in its bid to keep McDonald’s out of its small township, other fast food outlets had started to develop all over, resulting in an increase in littering.
“It looks disgusting,” she said.
“It also gets into the waterways and causes problems for the wildlife.”