Residents gear up to keep McDonald's out of 'slow' town
A regional town that already has 38 eating places and international accreditation as a "slow city" is gearing up to fend off one of the world's biggest fast-food chains.
The coastal town of Goolwa, south of Adelaide, is a bustling hub of small businesses that, during summer and tourism periods, are packed to the hilt with customers.
It is a place of renowned heritage at the edge of the Coorong and featured in the classic 1976 Australian film, Storm Boy.
The historic PS Oscar W is among tourist attractions at Goolwa. (891 ABC Adelaide: Caroline Horn)
Cittaslow Goolwa, a volunteer group devoted to protecting the area's food and cultural identity, told the ABC this week that a property was under contract to buyers who wanted to build a McDonald's on the site as Goolwa's first fast-food outlet.
"All up, there are 38 eating places in Goolwa alone, without the outlying towns," said Olaf Hansen, seafood specialist and founder of cafe and restaurant Bombora On The River.
"I bet you won't find any other place in Australia that will have that many eating places, so I can't see the point of putting more in because the operators are struggling to find staff already.
"It's OK through winter but come summer, everyone is in the same boat."
He said Goolwa had a range of restaurants, including Indian, Thai, Vietnamese, Chinese, German and an "iconic" fish-and-chip shop by the Murray Mouth.
"Why would you wreck the character of this town by putting fast food in it? It will probably only open the floodgates for the future," Mr Hansen said.
Some Goolwa residents do not want to see McDonald's famed arches in their town. (ABC News)
Alexandrina Council Mayor Keith Parkes said the council was aware that a property on Hutchinson Road, which leads into town from Middleton, had been up for sale and was now under contract.
"We know that there's an application for this property. It's in a commercial precinct, so the actual commercial component of the planning requirements are okay," he told 891 ABC Adelaide.
"It was an automotive repair facility and currently is a car wash also, so it's a change of use, and that won't come to the council for a decision."
He said it would go to the Fleurieu Regional Assessment Panel (FRAP) instead.
An accredited Cittaslow town
In March 2007, Goolwa was accredited by Cittaslow International as the first Cittaslow town in Australia, a term that means "slow city".
A delegation from Italy travelled to the regional town to present it with a certificate. Cittaslow Goolwa now has about 250 volunteer members.
A Cittaslow delegation travelled to Goolwa to present the council with a certificate in 2007. (Supplied: Cittaslow Goolwa)
Vice-president Christine Putland said the Cittaslow organisation grew out of the "slow food movement".
She said in Italy, it had been observed that slow food had resisted the loss of communities to larger corporations, supermarkets and "multinational fast-food companies".
"Their response to that was to really focus on what they could grow and produce and share locally, so that's how Cittaslow started," she said.
It also takes a broader approach to respecting and upholding a place's past and traditions, its people and meeting places, its heritage and culture.
"In Goolwa, we already have a lot of outlets. We have hamburgers already made by local businesses, for instance," Ms Putland said.
Christine Putland says a fast-food outlet is out of character with the area. (891 ABC Adelaide: Caroline Horn)
She said it did not need to rely on a "multinational company" to create more.
"Even if the franchises might be more local or state-based, it is still not growing out of the community," Ms Putland said.
"It's not really benefiting or strengthening or capacity building in our community.
"It's not within the character of our community or our town to incorporate something like a McDonald's, or any other fast-food chain."
Public consultation expected
Cr Parkes said that once an application was made to the FRAP, it would "almost certainly go out for public consultation, over at least a two to three-week period, and that'll be advertised".
"At that stage, all members of our community, including Cittaslow and the council, will be able to submit their opinion either for, or against," he said.
Aside from a McDonald's at the top of the Fleurieu Peninsula at Aldinga, there is only one other McDonald's on the peninsula.
It is located about 17 kilometres to Goolwa's west at Victor Harbor.
Local architect Steve Grieve said a fast-food franchise would not bring anything that reflected Goolwa's historic nature.
"They just bring some American-standard international building, arches and the whole, so they don't add anything to it,"
he said.
"In fact, they detract from a good environment significantly."
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