A community in Perth’s south has raised the alarm over a proposal to build a fifth McDonald’s chain in their suburb – and the second to sit directly opposite a primary school.
The development plans come as a new report reveals Perth is the “least healthy” of all capital cities in the country, and the only capital with worse health outcomes than its surrounding regions – partly attributed to urban sprawl and a lack of access to healthy food options.
City of Rockingham councillor Kelly Middlecoat said locals had expressed their concerns to her about the American burger chain’s plans to open a fifth Baldivis outlet.
“Key issues raised include the proposed restaurant’s proximity Pine View Primary School, the presence of four existing McDonald’s in the area, and the lack of diverse dining options,” she said.
The proposal closed for public consultation on November 11, and the council will now review the feedback.
Andres Gutierrez, the general manager of health at insurance comparison company iSelect, said access to fast food had a big impact on health outcomes and contributed to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic conditions.
“This is more likely to be an issue in areas where these types of outlets are most common, as an overabundance of fast food options can perpetuate poor dietary habits, especially when healthier food choices are harder to come by and convenience and affordability make fast food an easy option,” he said.
But other factors contributed to poor health across Perth.
The insurer was behind the new report, which brought together the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on the prevalence of long-term health conditions, including mental health, at a state, regional and suburb level.
Of the WA suburbs with a population over 100, Emu Point near Albany in the state’s Great Southern recorded the highest rates of arthritis, dementia and heart disease, while the Aboriginal community of Wanarn, in the Goldfields–Esperance region, had the highest rates of diabetes and kidney disease.
The report also looked at five health risk factors – alcohol, smoking, physical activity, fruit intake and vegetable intake – and gave each city a “health score” out of 100.
Perth received the worst score of just 42.44 compared to Sydney, at the top of the list, which scored 78.47.
More than one-quarter of Perth residents were exceeding Australian alcohol intake guidelines, the report revealed, while less than a quarter met physical activity guides.
While nearly 50 per cent were hitting fruit intake guidelines, just 7 per cent were getting enough vegetables.
Those scores were worse in every category than the percentages recorded for those living in the state’s regions.
“As a sprawling, car-dependent city, residents can often face barriers to regular physical activity, which can contribute to poor health outcomes,” Gutierrez said.
“The city’s geographic isolation can impact access to healthcare services, making it harder for people to get timely treatment or preventive care.
“Another unique factor for Perth is the higher number of FIFO workers, many of whom may face additional challenges related to irregular work schedules, stress, and limited access to healthy food options, all of which can negatively impact long-term health.
“Combined with environmental factors like Perth’s harsh summer heat, which can discourage outdoor activity, these challenges can take a toll on the overall health of the population.”
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