06/08/2026
The campaign against a proposed McDonald's in the heart of Castlemaine continues to gather political support, with Greens candidate for Bendigo West Liza Shaw throwing her weight behind the growing “Keep Castlemaine Local” movement.
In a social media post promoting campaign merchandise, Shaw urged residents to publicly show their opposition to the fast-food giant's plans for the town.
“Let's keep Castlemaine local!” she stressed.
The campaign embraces Castlemaine's reputation for independent cafés, local producers, artisan food and small businesses, portraying the proposed McDonald's as everything the town has spent decades trying to avoid.
“While the rest of the world runs on Happy Meals, Castlemaine runs on sourdough starters,” she added. “We prefer our burgers locally sourced, ethically sound, vegan, and wrapped in recycled cardboard.”
The campaign also mocked the company's famous mascot, declaring Castlemaine “doesn't need a corporate clown selling us fries” because it already has “an entire community keeping it independent and wonderfully weird.”
The proposed restaurant would be built on a vacant commercial site near the corner of Forest and Wheeler Streets, close to Castlemaine Primary School.
Opponents argue a drive-through restaurant would fundamentally change the feel of the historic goldfields town, replacing independent businesses and local character with another piece of global corporate branding.
The latest comments follow months of growing opposition, including rallies organised by the grassroots group Kids Against Maccas, where children, parents and supporters have taken to the streets to protest the proposal.
Animal Justice Party MP Georgie Purcell has also backed the campaign, using Victorian Parliament to call for planning reforms that would give communities greater power to reject developments they believe threaten local identity.
For many opponents, the debate goes far beyond one restaurant.
McDonald's has built one of the world's most profitable business empires by selling heavily processed, calorie-dense food high in sodium, refined carbohydrates, industrial seed oils and saturated fats, while aggressively marketing it as a quick, convenient family meal.
Public health experts have long linked regular consumption of ultra-processed fast food to higher risks of obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and other chronic illnesses, particularly among children and young people.
Animal welfare is another major concern raised by campaigners.
McDonald's is one of the world's largest purchasers of beef, chicken and pork, with critics arguing its enormous demand helps sustain intensive factory farming systems that prioritise efficiency and profit over animal welfare.
Advocacy groups have spent decades highlighting issues including overcrowded housing, selective breeding, confinement practices and industrial-scale meat production throughout global supply chains.
Environmental campaigners have likewise criticised the company over its enormous packaging waste, greenhouse gas emissions, reliance on intensive beef production, and links within global agricultural supply chains to deforestation, despite ongoing sustainability commitments.
The company has also faced repeated legal action and scrutiny over allegations of widespread wage theft and worker underpayment in Australia, with cases involving claims of denied breaks, unpaid work and other workplace breaches affecting large numbers of employees.
Many opponents fear Castlemaine could lose part of what makes it unique if another multinational chain establishes itself in the town centre.
Some argue it could open the door for further corporate expansion, gradually replacing locally owned businesses with familiar national and international brands.
Not everyone shares those concerns, though.
Supporters say the proposed restaurant would create more than 100 jobs, invest over $3.5 million into the local economy, provide valuable employment opportunities for young people and give residents another dining option in a town where many businesses close early.
But for now, the proposed Golden Arches remain one of the most hotly debated developments in regional Victoria, with the fight over Castlemaine's future showing no signs of cooling down.
