Join us and local Illawarra residents to fight the proposal for a huge 24-hour McDonalds outlet and petrol station in the new Wongawilli Village Centre in West Dapto. This will have a negative impact on the health and wellbeing of the local community.
The campaign is at a critical point – McDonalds is taking the matter to court despite strong objections from community and the proposal being firmly rejected by Wollongong City Council and the Independent Planning Review Panel.
Our support is needed to stop this development going ahead. Would you want a 24 hour McDonalds near your house, with the associated issues with traffic, noise, safety, litter, constant bright lights and no local access to healthy foods.
How can you help?
We need your voice to be heard and for you to share your concerns. It can be short and to the point. We have some form letters to get you started or see the key points below:
- Write a letter to McDonalds – download form letter to get you started. Paste your comments directly to the McDonalds Contact Us page.
- Write a letter to local media
- Spread the word – talk to your friends, family, neighbours and colleagues about the issues!
- Write a letter to your local member:
- your ward councillor at Wollongong City Council (see a list here) – download form letter here to get you started
- the state government Member for Shellharbour, the Hon. Anna Watson – download form letter here to get you started
- the federal government Member for Whitlam, the Hon. Stephen Jones – download form letter here to get you started
Current robust national and international research demonstrates that increased exposure to fast food outlets, or even having a fast food outlet nearby, negatively impacts a family’s dietary habits.
Dr Jennifer Norman, Childhood Obesity Research Coordinator
From her presentation at Wollongong City Council Local Planning Panel meeting, 24 September 2020
Key Points
Not suited to site
The proposal is not appropriate for the new village town centre . Wongawilli village was planned as a sustainable, walkable village development. People moved to the area on the understanding that the centre would offer facilities that are needed by the community such as a grocer, café, butcher or hairdresser. The McDonald’s Development takes the whole town centre footprint and will displace the potential for essential small-scale local businesses.
Healthy food options and outcomes
The Wongawilli Village Centre is suited to a small supermarket with access to everyday fresh food. Studies show that communities with healthier stores have healthier diets and there is clear evidence that increased exposure to fast food restaurants negatively influences children’s eating habits and increases children’s risk of obesity. This means ensuring healthy food options are available within walking distance of houses.
Rights of the child
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child states that children have a right to the provision of adequate nutritious food. As malnutrition is seen not only as referring to insufficient kilojoules or nutrients but also excess kilojoules, the UNCRC requires governments to take action concerning food sales where this affects children’s risk of overweight.
Setting a Precedent
This is the first food and drink premises DA lodged for the West Dapto development, approval could set a precedent which not only contravenes the rights of children to the provision of adequate nutritious food but would give the green light for all future fast food development proposals.
Community Connection
Small scale local businesses would provide familiar faces and contribute to the evolution of a community hub, contributing positively to the wellbeing of local residents. The site is located adjacent to parkland and the river frontage with footpaths and trails connecting to many of the local houses.
We moved to Wongawilli to enjoy living in a semi-rural village, at the base of the escarpment where we thought that we could have the best opportunity to live a healthy lifestyle, as close to nature as you can get within an urban development. The [proposed] development of the Wongawilli village was something that wasn’t imagined by us.
Jennifer Styles, local resident.
From her presentation at Wollongong City Council Local Planning Panel meeting, 24 September 2020
Want to know more?
Reasons for refusal of the development as detailed in the Wollongong Local Planning Panel Assessment Report
Concerns raised at the Wollongong Local Planning Panel on 24 September 2020 – commencing 1 hour 36 minutes in to the meeting.
