Drive along the main street of Colac, and you will be greeted with a fast-food feast for the eyes. In a short stretch, there are at least five major fast-food chains.
Health researchers have identified Colac in south-west Victoria as a town with a high density of fast-food outlets.
The main street of Colac with its proliferation of fast food. Credit: Eddie Jim
Now, another fast food operator – Hungry Jack’s – is seeking to open an outlet in the town of about 12,500 people. The chain has lodged a planning application with Colac Otway Shire for permission to build the outlet.
Deakin University food retail expert Cindy Needham said the concentration of fast-food outlets was already too high in Colac.
“They don’t need another one,” she said. “Hungry Jack’s is the only thing they don’t have in Colac.”
Needham said the proliferation of fast food had the capacity to crowd out healthier options, making them less feasible. Colac already has McDonald’s, KFC, Subway and Dominos outlets. A Red Rooster outlet is closed for renovations.
Deakin University researcher Cindy Needham says Colac doesn’t need a Hungry Jack’s outlet. Credit: Jason South
Needham called for councils to be given stronger powers to reject planning applications for developments, including fast-food outlets, based on health concerns.
One property owner, Sarah Osborne, spoke out against the proposal in this week’s council meeting, which heard submissions on the proposed Hungry Jack’s outlet. Osborne is a council employee, but she told the meeting she was not conflicted because she was not involved in the application, although her family does own a nearby property.
“Adding another cheap fast-food option is not in the best interests of the Colac Otway community,” she said.
Osborne said only 7 per cent of adults in her community met vegetable consumption guidelines.
‘Adding another cheap fast-food option is not in the best interests of the Colac Otway community.’
Colac resident Sarah Osborne
“This proposal will negatively affect wellbeing of residents, amenity of my property and the appearance of a beautiful tree-lined section of Murray Street.”
However, Colac Otway Shire Mayor Jason Schram said he did not believe councils should have the power to reject planning applications on health grounds. He argued the proposed powers could stifle competition and trade.
“It would be a restriction on fair trade practices,” Schram said. “It comes down to individual businesses about whether they think they can trade and make a profit.”
Consultant Robert Williams, a senior associate planner at Human Habitats which is representing Hungry Jack’s, told this week’s council meeting the restaurant would operate seven days a week and 24 hours a day. It is set to have 40 seats.
The site of the proposed Hungry Jack’s outlet. Credit: Eddie Jim
Williams said a planning permit was required for the building works, signage and altering road access. The council does not have the power to reject the proposal on health grounds.
“We believe the site is a good location for this use,” Williams said.
There has been some support on social media for the Hungry Jack’s outlet in Colac. However, residents have also raised concerns about increased traffic, noise from 24-hour trading and the cooking smell the outlet is likely to emit.
In a statement, Hungry Jack’s said it was awaiting approval or further advice from the Colac Otway Shire Council about its development application.
It said the proposed restaurant would create more than 50 local jobs and make a positive economic contribution to the area.
Liz and Patrick Murphy own a business near the proposed Hungry Jack’s site, but say their store is the “polar opposite” of fast food.Credit: Eddie Jim
“Hungry Jack’s is continually evaluating customer requirements for new restaurants in various regions throughout Victoria,” the statement said.
Several hundred metres away from the proposed Hungry Jack’s outlet, Liz and Patrick Murphy described their family business as the “polar opposite” of a fast-food store. Their cafe and shop specialises in organic and biodynamic food and local produce.
“We just serve real food,” Patrick said. “Everything is handmade.”
He said customers were happy to wait for coffees in the busy cafe and often chatted while in line, which fostered a sense of community that was unlikely to happen in a fast-food outlet. Patrick said fast food was already “huge” in Colac.
Liz said her business served slow food. “You’re not going to get it in three seconds like Hungry Jack’s,” she said.
Liz said she and Patrick sought to keep prices down for healthy food even though they were not competing with fast-food operators.
“We want it to be accessible,” she said.
A Colac Area Health spokeswoman declined to say whether the organisation supported the Hungry Jack’s application. However, she said when new developments were proposed, including fast-food outlets, it was important to consider the broader impact on community health and wellbeing.
The spokeswoman said the Colac Area Health supported campaigns aimed at reducing children’s exposure to unhealthy food advertising.
“As part of this, we encourage thoughtful planning and community dialogue around the types of food environments we want to see in our region,” she said.
The Colac Otway Shire will consider the Hungry Jack’s application at a coming council meeting.
Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.