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Is a McJob Really That Bad?
Article By Kit Molloy:
The imminent construction of a McDonald’s outlet in the Melbourne suburb of Tecoma has prompted a (Mc)flurry of arguments for and against the development from a number of the regions residents. The greatest benefit however, and that which seems to have become forgotten in this battle is the positive impact of employment on the young people of the area.

At this point I need to confess that in my youth, I was once a McDonald’s employee. Sure, as typical teenagers we grumbled and groaned about our managers, customers and duties, but as time went by and long after I’d left the company I came to realise that not only had the company instilled in me a sense of discipline and work ethic, it had also been a great social adventure which in itself, is always the very greatest and most enjoyable of all learning experiences.

As any long term unemployed person might tell you, there’s more to a job than just a fortnightly pay packet, and although a ‘McJob’ might be seen as derisory or beneath the dignity of some, for many young people it’s often the easiest and only first step on the ladder of a working career. In fact, many employers look favourably on former McDonald’s employees for the training and ethic they’ve acquired within the company. To degrade the work of McDonald’s employees as robotic or menial (as some in the protest group have done) is to underestimate
the value of employment for our youth.

Some argue that there are a plethora of other local businesses that provide employment to the regions teens. Supermarkets, convenience stores and the many fast food takeaways that already line the highway between Upwey and Belgrave do employ many, but with high youth unemployment a traditional constant not only in Tecoma but across the nation, the opportunity to employ more of the areas youth should be embraced and encouraged. The average McDonald’s outlet employs 80-100 people. Of those, 10-15 are usually full time. In the perhaps, 30+ year lifespan of the operation in Tecoma, McDonald’s will train and employ many thousands of the residents sons and daughters, and set them on the path of their working lives.

It’s true that two locals businesses have lost the leases their to accommodate the new McDonald’s restaurant and of course, that’s unfortunate. Both have the option of relocating to one of the many vacant shops along the Tecoma commercial precinct however, and one (Saffron Cottage) is now in the process of doing so. It’s also been argued that the many other local fast food operations along the strip will also suffer from the competition and in consequence their ability to employ, but since when has the presence of a McDonald’s, or any large fast food franchise for that matter affected the individuals desire for variation? Sure, you might eat McDonald’s this Friday night, but invariably you’ll want pizza or fish and chips the following week, maybe Thai or charcoal chicken the week after that. In fact, It could be argued that the large franchises actually stimulate competition and therefore employment. After all, when was the last time you saw a McDonald’s that didn’t have a series of rival takeaways nearby?  In retail leasing, one of the prime draw cards that makes others want to sign up are what they refer to as "anchors". Businesses like Coles, Big W  generate traffic. In a food court thebig players such as  McDonald's, KFC etc. are the draw cards. It is a leasing agents dream to refer to the pulling power of such a brand when negotiating.

Teenagers do get bored. If not devoting too much time to video games or eating you out of house and home, they might occasionally be chugging cheap booze with their mates behind the train station (It’s a rite of passage, I’m assured). It’s for this reason we encourage them to participate in sports and hobbies where they learn and expend some of their energies. The question to consider though, Is a McJob and the skills, physical exertion and social interaction involved so different to the footy club or ballet practice, and how can that new supplementary income affect the family budget? Can it really be all that bad?

 
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Democracy, or its failure to represent the people has been the cry of a vocal group opposing the construction of a McDonald’s restaurant in the Melbourne suburb of Tecoma, but how has Australian democracy failed this group and what does it mean to the community at large?

Well, a lot more that you’d think, actually.  

The McDonald’s Tecoma site sits at the far end of the long reaching Burwood Highway, and was zoned  as suitable for commercial purposes by local shire and state authorities. 
Although McDonald’s always had the legal right to operate in the area, Councilors at the Shire of Yarra Ranges (SYR) unanimously refused to grant McDonald’s a permit to construct a fit for purpose structure on the site despite the advice of their own legal and planning officers and contrary to the very planning overlays that the shire council had previously engineered. It’s worth noting at this point that this decision was made conveniently prior to the impending local government elections of October, 2012.

Roll on 2013, local elections are done and dusted and Councilors at the Shire of Yarra Ranges are now at liberty to refuse to challenge McDonald’s successful appeal to VCAT, their seats by now, safely won. You see, In the past, municipal government was the traditional realm of the community minded Rotarian or the bored retiree, but when municipal governments become politically affiliated, as is now the case with the SYR, we start to see the politicisation of basic issues along party lines, in the interests of re-election, and not necessarily in the best interest of local residents.

So how does democracy fit into all of this?  Well for a start, the SYR made a politically expedient ruling inconsistent with their own planning statutes. Had local Lyster ward Councilor Samantha Dunn and her colleagues truly cared about zoning issues in the ward and represented the interests of locals, she might have made some effort in her first term to amend zoning and exclude 24 hour operation for new or existing businesses in the shire. Instead, she’s been busy promoting the agenda of her chosen politically affiliation, the Australian Greens http://vic.greens.org.au/samantha.dunn, Stroking wombats and posing for photo opportunities in the local paper.

And VCAT? (the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal). Well they act much like a magistrate in a court of civil law. Their function is not to challenge legal precedent (local or otherwise), but to uphold and enforce it.  In this instance, they upheld the local and democratically elected council’s existing zoning statutes, of which McDonald’s always attempted to avail themselves of in the first place!  

For those who oppose McDonald’s in the Dandenong Ranges, or any fast food conglomerate in the hills for that matter, the onus of blame must be looked upon realistically. It wasn’t democracy that failed you.  Rather, it was the inactivity or ineptitude of local councilors who failed their constituents. 

So, how will you be voting next election?  


 
Much has been discussed about Tecoma and the “small village” feel of the place. The picture painted is one of an isolated township with a small resident population. What is not explained to those being drawn into this saga is how Tecoma is bordered by the suburbs of Upwey and Belgrave and meshes in with them seamlessly while forming one of the many outer Melbourne suburbs on the periphery of The Dandenong Ranges. Tecoma is also serviced within Post Code 3160 that covers areas including Belgrave, Belgrave Heights & Belgrave South. Total population within that specific catchment is just over 9000.
All population statistics are sourced via http://www.yarraranges.vic.gov.au/Council/About_the_Region/Community_and_Population


As can be seen by the following image, Tecoma is bounded by the suburbs of Belgrave to the east and Upwey to the west. Combined community population of 12,995 residents based on Australian Bureau of Statistics data sourced via Yarra Ranges Council.

Areas within
RED lines are Commercial precincts. Of significant note is the presence of a major tourism anchor of the Puffing Billy Historical Railroad in Belgrave.

Areas within
GREEN are schools. There are 4 schools within the immediate area, Upwey High & Primary Schools, Tecoma Primary School, St Thomas Mores Catholic Primary and Mater Christi Catholic Girls College. 


The significance of the schooling locations references the large number of youth that transit though the community either by road or other means of pubic transport such as bus and suburban train network that terminates at Belgrave with stations at both Tecoma and Upwey as it travels back to the Melbourne CBD. Within these areas, there are over 2000 teenaged students who would benefit from the employment opportunities that will be made available by the creation of another 75+ casual positions.
.  (CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGE)


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Overhead Representation
 
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It has been argued by those who oppose the McDonald’s, Tecoma  development that the old Hazelvale dairy had historical significance worth saving. Historic architecture is important to our sense of identity and that of our community and we should be careful to retain as much of this heritage as is practical.

 The old Hazelvale dairy however is an example of a property that has been denuded of its original aesthetic, stripped of its original structural integrity and lacking in any outstanding social or historic importance. For a building to be outstanding, It should support a definitive architectural style or historical or social value. A fantastic example of which is the old United Kingdom hotel in Clifton Hill, Melbourne. Formerly a pub. the building has been saved from the wreckers and re-purposed into a McDonald's restaurant. The building itself is a majestic example of the art deco/streamline style popular in the early 30's to early 50's.

 The Hazelvale dairy is from the same era, however it was constructed in a much simpler, utilitarian style, not dissimilar to countless other commercial properties still extant around the country, and often in better and more original condition. 
Unfortunately, the old dairy fails to meet even the most basic of preconditions to be regarded as anything other that just another old building and in fact, It would be hard to recognise it as having any real historical relevance whatsoever given its current condition. 

There was likely a time, when the old United Kingdom hotel in Clifton Hill had replaced an older structure. It's because of that development that we now have such a beautiful example of 30's art deco architecture. Nobody is suggesting that the proposed new McDonald's in Tecoma will be of lasting architectural or social importance, but is it not beyond belief that people in the future might look upon that structure as having some intrinsic social or architectural value, especially considering the efforts the company has gone to to make the structure as unobtrusive and befitting the character of the town as possible? After all, there are some that would argue that the simplistic, industrial design of the old Hazelvale dairy is worth saving. Why not the 'old' McDonald's?  
 


 
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Sympathetic Portrayal

Many images of the township fail to show the full scope and commercial aspect of the township.   The image shown on the right is an example of how the town is portrayed from the sympathetic lens of a protest supporter. It emphasises the “country” feel of the town without showing the full commercial nature of the main shopping strip of Tecoma! 

However seen below, we have an image that gives a better impression of the main shopping precinct of Tecoma!
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Photo showing the main shopping precinct
Now, lets look at an overhead representation (seen below) of the township of Tecoma. Within the YELLOW lines is the area as shown in the first image.  Then we have the areas within the RED lines which represents the majority of the area covered by commercial premises. There are several isolated businesses along both sides of Burwood Highway that are not individually marked. The area within the GREEN lines is Tecoma Primary School. Some would have you believe that the school is in immediate impact of the proposed site, but as can be seen, it is removed from the site and not DIRECTLY opposite as some would claim.