More than 200 residents dressed in red, yellow, blue and black gathered at the proposed McDonald’s site on Forest Street on Wednesday, joining other Victorian communities in their fight to stop the spread of multinational fast-food outlets.
The MAC OFF- Protect Castlemaine demonstration was attended by supporters opposed to the McDonald’s development at Kyneton and coincided with a similar demonstration by Northcote’s ‘Not Lovin’ It!’ campaign, which arose after Darebin City Council rejected a McDonald’s, only for the decision to be overturned at VCAT.
These campaigns are calling on Premier Ben Carroll and the Victorian Government to support David Ettershank MP’s Planning Amendment (Restricting New Fast-Food Developments) Bill 2026. The proposed legislation would give councils stronger powers to refuse new fast-food developments where they conflict with community health, neighbourhood character and local planning objectives.
MAC OFF – Protect Castlemaine campaign coordinator Vicki Anderson said the government should support stronger planning controls, enabling councils to take a more active role.
“Castlemaine now joins a long line of communities across Australia trying to protect important town and suburb sites from the impacts of McDonald’s outlets, having to navigate the inadequate planning controls currently in place,” she said.
“We want to protect our blend of unique local businesses and enterprises, and our reputation for creativity, artisan produce and cultural heritage, which our shire’s annual $364 million tourism industry and UNESCO Creative City and Region of Gastronomy designation is based upon.”
Held on Vote for Food Day, a national initiative coordinated by Sustain: The Australian Food Network, community members at Wednesday’s event were invited to sign the physical petition or e-petition supporting the new legislation and had the opportunity to purchase MAC OFF badges and bumper stickers, with funds raised to be used to support the local campaign against the proposed development.
You can sign the petition, which calls on the Legislative Council to support legislation giving Victorian communities and local governments greater power to create healthier local food environments, at: macoffcastlemaine.com/legislative-council-petition