By Oliver Lees
Hundreds of concerned Macedon Ranges residents have slammed two proposed commercial developments that would occupy land near an entry point to the Kyneton township.
The proposals include plans for the construction of a Bunnings Warehouse and a service station with a McDonald’s fast food restaurant at a site on the intersection of Edgecombe Road and Pipers Creek Road, one and a half kilometres from the Kyneton town centre.
The Bunnings Warehouse development proposal details plans for a carpark with 194 spaces, while the service station would be equipped with four fuel bowsers and a fast food drive through.
Prior to a Macedon Ranges council planning meeting last week, council received a combined total of 618 letters of objections and 35 letters of support related to the developments.
A social worker, a nurse, an artist, a teacher and an executive chairperson of a superannuation fund were among the submitters that aired the grievances over the proposals’ impact on a range of issues, from traffic, to the local economy and the environment.
Macedon Ranges Sustainability Group member Susan McNab said using the site for these commercial purposes would damage Kyneton’s image as a country town.
“It would be a travesty for every tourist to drive past McDonald’s and Bunnings through significant traffic to get to the town,” she said.
Simon Buckley, who lives on Pipers Creek Road next to the site, said his objection was “purely a traffic concern”.
“I’m a born and bred Kynetonian … that intersection is one of the most dangerous in the Kyneton area,” he said.
“It is an absolute disaster waiting to happen.”
Environmental volunteer Ben Gill said the development would damage the ecosystem of Post Office Creek which intersects the site and is “direly important to our local wildlife”.
A representative from the site applicant Goldfields Group said the developments would bring a total of 160 jobs across the McDonald’s and the service station, with a further 40 ongoing roles associated with the Bunnings Warehouse.
Bunnings Warehouse spokesperson Jason Eden said the business is committed to contributing to the community.
“Bunnings Warehouse are a part of many communities and we want to be a good neighbour,” Mr Gill said.
Council officers will prepare recommendations for consideration at the next planning meeting scheduled for September 8.
