McDonald’s Australia has ceased legal action against eight community protesters — dubbed the “Tecoma 8” — who were being sued for damages over delays to construction of a McDonald’s restaurant in Tecoma, in the Dandenong Ranges on the outskirts of Melbourne.
For two years a strong local campaign by residents and council opposed the construction of a 24-hour McDonald’s. At a large community protest to stop the demolition of former dairy buildings at the site on July 1, protesters staged a sit-in for several days on the roof of the buildings. McDonald’s began the legal action after this protest.
The settlement whereby McDonald’s drops its legal action was reached after a court-ordered mediation on October 29. The agreement remains to be approved by the Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria who is hearing the case. McDonald’s and legal firm Maurice Blackburn, which has been acting pro bono for the protesters, issued a joint statement.
The statement says McDonald’s will drop the action but “the defendants have agreed personally and on behalf of those they represent not to undertake activities which may constitute trespass or nuisance until 30 June 2014. If the settlement agreement is breached, McDonald's has the right to reinstate proceedings against any of the named parties.”
Signage on the proposed McDonald's restaurant site in October last year. Photo: Occupy Melbourne