<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A group of schoolchildren have joined forces to stop a </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mcdonalds-australia-blocked-successful-petitions-against-fast-food-giant/a137bc9b-d0b2-4f36-bd77-bc8eee746040" rel="" target="_blank" title="McDonald's from being built"><span>McDonald's from being built</span></a><span> in the centre of their small </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/victoria" rel="" target="_blank" title="Victorian town."><span>Victorian town.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The fast-food giant is eyeing a vacant parcel of land in Castlemaine, a quiet community with a population of 1200 people, located around 130 kilometres from </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/melbourne" rel="" target="" title="Melbourne."><span>Melbourne.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McDonald's has never set foot in the gold rush town. Some of Castlemaine's youngest residents want to keep it that way.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-financial-review-reveals-the-rich-list-for-2026/c9cb2cc3-2cc1-4e0c-984f-6080968a8eb5" target="_blank"><strong><span>Australia's top 10 richest people revealed</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>Do you have a story? Contact</span></strong></em><span> </span><strong><em><span>reporter April Glover at</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="mailto:april.glover@nine.com.au" target="" title="april.glover@nine.com.au"><em><strong><span>april.glover@nine.com.au</span></strong></em></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hannah Sinclair's two children Wren, 11, and Albie, eight, are concerned the Golden Arches won't be the right fit for their "beautiful" hometown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's [almost] right across the road from the school and that's where our local circus performs every year," Wren told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/mcdonalds-castlemaine-school-children-oppose-new-restaurant-plans-in-vacant-land/1436f577-d6b6-4725-977f-5cc4074998e0" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It would be right in the centre of town where the big water fountain that goes back to the gold mining period... it's a really beautiful part of town.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's not really the type of business we want in Castlemaine."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>McDonald's is yet to lodge a development application with Mount Alexander Shire Council, but confirmed it is proposing a free-standing restaurant with a McCafe, drive-through, playground and carpark at 72-80 Forest Street.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Forest Street is one of Castlemaine's busiest roads.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The site is 250 metres away from Castlemaine Primary School and two blocks from the nearby St Mary's Primary School.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Residents say the traffic caused by the McDonald's would interrupt the flow of children walking and riding their bikes to school.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Hannah said it is "hard to imagine" the extra traffic if a McDonald's is approved and built.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It also sits close to a Woolworths, BWS PetStock, several restaurants and a theatre.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-israel-iran-war-state-tv-says-draft-deal-would-reopen-hormuz-shipping-end-naval-blockade/1a9b1f63-a02c-4a23-9a11-57bbddbeb2a6" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Iran reveals 'draft deal' that would unlock world's oil crisis</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wren's younger brother Albie said he and his classmates agree that Castlemaine already has enough "chain" stores.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>He wants to support local businesses, like his favourite fish and chip shop.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Most of us say we don't want a Macca's in Castlemaine. We're a very sustainable town, and there's lots more chain companies popping up," he said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The new burger shops are a chain. The Subway is a chain and Macca's would just add to it, it would go to the next level."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There are 100-year-old oak trees that border the grassy field, which the family are worried will be impacted by construction work.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Exactly how much of the 4310-square-metre site will be used for the proposed restaurant remains unknown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Wren and Albie took part in a rally on Thursday at the proposed site.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Dozens of local kids, teenagers and parents joined the effort to oppose a Macca's in Castlemaine.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The young protesters say it's about protecting the legacy of their town.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We're leading this rally, and it's actually for our future," Wren added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It's a really healthy town, and we need to keep it local.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We need to make sure that it doesn't get built."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The details of the proposed fast food outlet are still being finalised, a spokesperson for McDonald's told nine.com.au.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/when-you-are-young-you-do-so-many-mistakes-father-of-isis-bride-says-she-made-a-mistake-as-second-cohort-touched-down-last-night/ef2e7855-ec92-493a-80d6-3e72f0568000" target="" title="Father of 'ISIS bride' breaks his silence"><strong><span>Father of 'ISIS bride' breaks his silence</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the company confirmed the potential development would represent an investment over $3.5 million in Castlemaine and provide over 100 jobs for the Goldfields region.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We've been part of Victorian communities since 1973, employing thousands of people, serving up a locally sourced menu and providing convenient destinations for customers looking for great everyday value and those iconic Macca's moments," the spokesperson added.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Nine.com.au has contacted Mount Alexander Shire Council for comment.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Communities around Australia are challenging McDonald's applications, some even successfully petitioning for their local council to block the development.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A group of protesters in Cowes Victoria's Philip Island have also banded together to </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/mcdonalds-dan-murphys-development-cowes-phillip-island/4eb0323d-ad53-4edb-a757-f833c0d615fc" rel="" target="_blank" title="fight a restaurant from opening near a primary school."><span>fight a restaurant from opening near a primary school.</span></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/northcote-mcdonalds-approved-after-fast-food-giant-appealed-decision-vcat/adc55a6a-323b-4575-a672-fc3bacff11b0" target="_blank" title="In Northcote, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne"><span>In Northcote, an inner-city suburb of Melbourne</span></a><span>, residents opposing a 24/7 McDonald's on High Street were left disappointed when the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) reversed a decision by Darebin City Council to block the restaurant.</span></div></div>