Mt Annan McDonald's employs classical musical to deter loitering youths at night

MACCAS plays classical music and opera from its outdoor speakers to keep away hooligans who congregate in their carparks.

WITH the dulcet tones of Pavarotti and his fellow tenors filling the airwaves, the carpark at Mt Annan McDonald's has been much quieter in the past few weeks.

The McDonald's store started playing classical musical late at night recently to deter young people from loitering at the store.

McDonald's Macarthur operations manager Matthew Watson said this was the first time the store had trialled classical music as a deterrent.

"We've noticed a reduction in the number of young people hanging around, but we'll have to reassess it properly in a couple of weeks," he said.

"We play a range of classical and opera music and so far it seems to be working."

Post by Macarthur Chronicle.

Readers inundated the Macarthur Chronicle Facebook page last week with praise for McDonald's use of classical music.

Sara Carrick said McDonald's tactic was definitely working. "I work nights nearby and it has made a massive difference already to the lingering and loitering in the carpark."

Barry Manilow found no love with the younger generation at Macarthur Square in 2009.

Maeve Birrell said the same tactic had been used successfully at Waverley Council. "I noticed it last night after I picked my son up from work and he wanted something to eat. I mentioned it to him and that Waverly Council had done the same thing a few years back to stop hoons from hanging around the car park at Bondi Beach but they went with Barry Manilow and it worked! The trouble makers moved on. Me, I would have stayed to dance to the Copacabana."

Hazel Miller said the music would improve Mt Annan. "Keep it up Macca's it might bring a bit of class to the area."

Using classical or easy listening music as a deterrent has worked wonders in the past, with Macarthur Square employing the tactic in March 2009 to keep unruly teens away. The centre blasted Barry Manilow during late night shopping on Thursdays to great effect, proving the younger generation has no love for such hits as I Write The Songs and Copacobana.

The use of similar music was also discussed by Camden Council in June 2009.