YOU SAID - Would you like a large fast food chain in Port?

Yes 91 (19%)
No 391 (81%)
Total 482

See our Poll Archive for more poll results

Have your say!

The comments made below are the opinions of the reader and do not represent the views of The Newsport. We ask you to provide your full name and valid email address to ensure your comments' legitimacy is acknowledged. Editor reserves the right to amend comments in accordance with Publisher’s Terms and Conditions. Click here for full publishers terms and conditions for reader comments.

Geoff , 03-03-12 12:39:

Nothing good can come from letting the chains in. Totally agree with comments re rubbish - saw the same result in Vic town. The Maccas franchise owner described wrappers dropped outside his premises as litter, but elsewhere, it was advertising material. He also commented that the chains actively watch their competitors for successful new sites - then join them. One in, all in. Don't contemplate it - not even in Craiglie.

Mirinda , 23-02-12 22:03:

One thing we noticed when moving here is there's no rubbish around. If there was a macca, you'd see it everywhere, all through the bush up the beach...

Brad Baker, 23-02-12 09:47:

Cheap bad food, teenage labour on minimum wage, all profits shipped back to USA, empty seats at all the other cafe,s and fast food outlets. All so you can destroy the original feel of the town and make it like every other suburb in the country that no longer resembles Australia. And for what? To please the Mc execs that don't even live anywhere near there. NO!!!!!

Renae , 22-02-12 20:31:

We were in a small town down south and the people there would not let the big chains open there either. So they moved to the next town and that town grew ten fold. Next was a large undercover shopping center etc etc. It creates more employment and that brings more people. This creating more work for the builders and increases house prices. I say if Port Douglas doesn't want it....build it in Mossman.

Glenn Koch, 22-02-12 20:16:

existing eateries would not be able to compete against the $3 burger, locals work those shops, more lost jobs and businesses for the sake of a few tourists who still think they are back home and can't accept Port as being different. Clearly the above comments speak of the same issues, so why would you want to let them in???

Keith Pitt, 22-02-12 19:44:

It's okay to want to support local businesses and I am all for it, but when you are charged $8 for a HAM AND SALAD SANDWICH, RIDICULOUS. Owners of business properties need to smell the coffee and realise that if their rent is too high, more and more small local businesses will close. If the leases are more realistic then the prices maybe as well. This is what happens when people from out of town move here and buy property with only one thing on their minds "PROFIT". This is Port Douglas. Where you go and have that desirable brekky for $6 and that nice cold beer that $3.50 everyday except Carnivale Street Party night when it would jump to $5.00 after 5pm. I love going to Port these days because it is slowly becoming what it used to be, a nice quiet little village. Bring on MACCAS. It will keep you all honest. Remember one thing, when the tourists go home, all you have are the overworked,underpaid locals who cannot afford your overpriced stuff.

H , 22-02-12 18:58:

...and then there's the yobbos that hang around at all hours of the night. I wouldn't want to see it near the IGA either.

Andy Gray, 22-02-12 18:58:

Here we go again the same old rubbish that gets pulled out about these fast food chains. We've survived this long with out it, people still love this town without it, the list Michael put together would be surely impacted probably forced to close. We don't need more empty shops we need to spend our money in town with the people who live in this town & make it viable for them. The flow on effect from this would drag Port into the rat race of anywhere. I say NO.

Lynette Bradford, 22-02-12 18:53:

Let's beautify Macrossan Street now by smartening up the place not desiccate with fast food outlets. Maybe Craiglie if you must!

Trudy Walker, 22-02-12 18:30:

Tod, I totally agree, I live in Redlynch and the amount of rubbish from the big M is terrible, as a family we visit Port Douglas regularily and love the variety of the querky and beautiful places to eat, there is a variety for families as well as couples. Please do not agree to these fast food outlets ruining the beauty of Port Douglas

DJ Murf Murphy, 22-02-12 18:14:

Matthew, you are a brave man!!!!

Micheal Casey, 22-02-12 16:43:

Just how many hamburger shops do we need? Surely there are enough in town.
1. Rattle n Hum
2. Chicken shop
3. Hot Pot
4. New gourmet hamburger shop
5. 3 x pubs
6. Tin Shed
7. Hogs breath
8. Other restaurants

You can add to this list

craig , 22-02-12 11:30:

We dont need the big fast food chains here.i agree we would loose our village feel that all come to enjoy,nearly all families i have come accross are thankful that they are not here and there is no pressure from their children.We have great restaurants and cafes in port,and I think they are as good and priced like other holiday destinations and cities. Keep our unique village as it is.....

Still call Port home , 22-02-12 06:32:

We've had to fight this for too long now, please don't cave. It is what sets Port apart from so many other tourist towns and we need tourists. It will truly drop the towns standards. If ya love cheap and crap eats, holiday or move further south.

Natalie Johnson, 21-02-12 22:10:

Given the obesity problem in this country, would it not be favourable to keep our destination as one that offers families a healthier option? I LOVE the fact my kids think Chinese or Thai take out is exciting, or that the Sushi Train in Smithfield is so exciting. Look around people, our destination does not have the health problems of others associated with cholesterol, obesity and diabetes. Zai Cafe offers low cost breakfast and lunch options, as does the Hot Pot and ultimately you can go to Coles for low cost meal options. Let's keep ourselves on the healthy side of the scales and DIFFERENT to other destinations - don't sell ourselves short by offering the easy option which ultimately is unhealthy and a future burden to ourselves and our families.

Kris .., 21-02-12 18:36:

I can see valid points on both side. I come from a small village town by the beach in Sydney, years ago we fought against a Mcdonalds and won, however there is now a Subway which has snuck in an not made an impact on local cafes and takeways its seems its mostly teens that patron it. I think something like a Mcdonalds or KFC would be sorely out of place in Macrossan st, however I would not be opposed to something near the IGA that would service mostly the locals, this would not affect locals business too much as most families could not afford to take their families out to eat in Macrossan St however could manage to treat their kids to a happy meal and a play in Playland.

Local , 21-02-12 18:12:

I can't be the only one who has noticed the surge in young families visiting port particularly over the last couple of years. We have to cater for the people who are actually coming here, not the people we would like to come (who don't seem to be coming very often anymore). So if we are going to welcome young families, we need to think about what options they would like, it's not all about us locals

Subie , 21-02-12 17:10:

If people really believe that Port Douglas would benefit from any fast food outlet such as maccas, etc, then it's likely time they moved from Port! And my opinion is from a tourist perspective!

Narelle Johnson, 21-02-12 16:26:

Maybe a McChucks in Mossman is a better idea.

Wayne , 21-02-12 14:33:

YES we do as we need to make this town more affordable for families who live or visit here who would like to eat out and not spend hundreds of dollars on one meal.

Mark Of Caloundra, 21-02-12 13:57:

I love Port Douglas, I holiday there every year and I'm strongly against fast food chains in the town. I think people should relish in the fact that the town is bucking the trend and hasn't been over-run with trash food (the likes of maccas, KFC etc.) that honestly doesn't taste good at all.

Tod , 21-02-12 13:20:

Mark,
I know what im saying. The village could do with some more business anyways fast food or not.
it would then employ some staff and add more jobs. I have only been here a year now and shops that are empty are still empty. thats not making money for anyone. the owners should get with the times. prices should be reduced for rent. times have changed Skaif is not here now that was along time ago. I do have some good ideas for empty shops but who would i speak to in this village? works in citys and probably would here too. as for $9 eggs bennys thanks for the tip. im there.

Danielle , 21-02-12 13:13:

I moved here to Port in 1981 - it was so beautiful then - as time passes there seem to be less people that care about the towns beauty and nature and more people that want the town to be lined with chain stores and cheap fast food eateries. You only have to ride through the streets in the early morning to see the streets littered with cans and pizza boxes - and I hate to say - vomit!!!! Disgusting!! If you bring in McDonalds then there will be more of this - but who am I to comment - this is progress right?

Mark , 21-02-12 07:57:

Know what your saying Tod. Maybe it is up to the restaurants and cafes. If they don't become more affordable they are really inviting the likes of the fast food chains in, if they'll come! Tod go to Zai Cafe it has $9 eggs benny!

Tim Wild, 20-02-12 17:18:

Let everyone in. Sick of getting ripped off for dub-standard product. Let the population let the bugg guys fail if you're so against it. How does Rivers flourish differ from the majestic golden arches (that EVERYONE buys on the occasional trip to Cairns!)

Felicite de Vries, 20-02-12 17:00:

Small business are struggling enough. I vote for local business, money staying in the local economy. So many lovely cafés & restaurants go broke over the wet season, why help them go out of business all together. Yes, Pt Douglas is a bit pricey, but it is beautiful and despite recent modernisation, it does still have the "village" feel. If you want to eat at Maccas or KFC, please holiday somewhere else.

John Cooper, 20-02-12 16:48:

If you want Port Douglas to be like Surfers's Cairns or many other large towns with populations that can support KFC, or MC Donalds's Hungry Jacks Etc. then fine. If you feel however like I do that there are enough food outlets who are providing service and quality products and that does help Port retain some of its dwindling "Village Atmosphere" Then why do you want all that extra glitter which would have to impact on The Combined, and Yacht Clubs to name just 2.

Richard , 20-02-12 14:15:

Just as hypothetical as The Viewpoint article itself is this question. As most comments so far have been based on potential rubbish generated and the food allegedly being "crap", if this could somehow be fixed with limited rubbish and "good, healthy food only", would opinions change? I will assume for this discussion that all of our current eateries fit this criteria now. Just wondering?

Anthony , 20-02-12 13:37:

the village feel of port douglas was lost years ago, so bring on the fast food chains

Jaymie , 20-02-12 13:04:

Any fast food store in this town would ruin the village feel Port Douglas is famous for, we dont need it or want it, i see enough Mc rubbish on the ground now, and the closest one is Smithfield. the food is mcCrap and its far from good for you, why would you want to polute your bodys and the environment, at the cost of getting a cheap meal..if ya want fast food so bad..go get it in Cairns..easy!if not bacon and eggs aint that hard..if a red headed clown can do it ..you can!

ann scott, 20-02-12 12:10:

Having not long ago signed a petition to have the golden arches close between 11pm and 7am in Hawthorn I would hate to see one open in Port. Drunks looking for a feed and fight, vomit and garbage. I wrote a letter to the PD&MG two weeks ago stating if we become like every other town on the eastern seaboard people will stop coming. Let's support local businesses and not global corporations! Totally agree with Peter & Mark.

Tony Gooding, 20-02-12 11:45:

Yes I would like to see a fast food option in Port Douglas

TEE , 20-02-12 10:57:

our magnificent blue skies edged with lush green is not to be marred by the big neon glow of golden arches, jac's or the colonel's initials. The neon C.G. is bad enough along side Rivers signage. Wendy's has moved to Mossman & Liquourland isn't here. There's currently enough bottle shops to satisfy the discerning consumers. For touro & locals we can buy 'real' food at Coles & basic clothes & household needs at Target.

Tod , 20-02-12 10:32:

Mark,
Not everyone want to go to a restaurant or cafe for breakfast let alone afford the Port Douglas prices. I used to go out for breakfast every day before i moved here and bacon and eggs was $6 and in Port its at least $16 for the same thing. Fine were all after the tourist dollar but we dont get paid higher. or should the people living here sit at home with toast and jam?

Peter McNeill, 20-02-12 10:20:

I was living in Noosa when McVomit opened there in Noosaville. Less than two hours after starting trading I discovered their litter at the very scenic Laguna lookout. Need I say more?

Mark , 20-02-12 09:33:

Are you for real? Maccas would kill this town. The restaurants and cafes would not stand a chance. Maccas offers a cheap alternative to breaky, lunch and dinner. Rent in this town would not allow the others to compete.

Tod , 20-02-12 09:33:

a 711 would go a treat and its a long drive to Smithfield to get hungry jacks. im not against fast food. but if one comes they all come and thats the problem. and so would be the light night eaters after pubs and clubs leaving there rubbish all down the streets its bad enough with the kebab shop wrappers.
shame the late night bakery is still not open.

Add comment

To top

Monday 20 February 2012

The Viewpoint - Aww, we're not so bad

This might sound like a stupid question, but can someone please explain to me why it's a bad idea to have a large fast food chain in town?

I'm neither for, nor against, a McDonalds, Hungry Jacks, KFC, Red Rooster or whatever setting up shop in Port Douglas, and I'm prepared to be convinced either way.

The passion this issue arouses in people is enormous, and I can see their point to a degree - inviting in a franchise does take us a step closer to becoming like most other towns in the known world. Whether that in itself is a bad thing is another issue.

But I'm not sure all the blame can be placed squarely on the shoulders of one business.

In Torquay in Victoria, a once cruisy little surfing town, a fight to keep McDonalds away was lost. The town now appears to have an overdeveloped commercialised landscape, unrecognisable from its character filled "hay-day."

But is it McDonalds' fault, or the fault of a Council which let development run rampant with huge housing estates bought up by Melbourneites all eager for a piece of coastal living (yes I'm aware Melbourne is on the coast but you get my drift)?

We've have had, and still do have franchises and outlets of large companies in our town. Target Country, Rivers, Brumby's, Wendy's, Coles, Shell, Mobil, Flight Centre, Jetset, Liquourland, the list goes on.

I'm told the marina was full of chain/franchise stores in its early days; Louis Veitton and Ralph Lauren as an example. Are they more acceptable because of the price tags their products carry?

Where is the line drawn? Is Subway acceptable? There are plenty of empty shops that could be filled with Starbucks.

Perhaps we're holding on to the past when the super-rich were as thick on the ground as the leaves on Macrossan Street.

Based on this, I just don't really get why fast food from large chains leaves a bad taste in people's mouths (apart from the obvious reason) given that I'm sure they could fit into the streetscape requirements already in place.

We do, of course, have a number of small businesses who fill this market already. These types of outlets are popular with families who may not be able to afford to eat at our restaurants, so why not give them more of what they're after?

The threat of Colonel Gaddafi is gone, but will the town once again be under attack at the hands of the evil Colonel Sanders?

Are you for or against big fast food chains coming to Port Douglas? Have your say below.

Cheap, easy, and lasts longer. Check out The Newsport Classifieds.