news, latest-news, Chisholm tavern, chisholm mcdonald’s, chisholm maccas
They are raising a glass in the Chisholm Family Tavern after it was saved from closure by a last-minute intervention from the ACT government. McDonald’s had gone through all the right procedures and been given approval for a new fast-food restaurant on the same block of land. All seemed lost for the pub. But out of the blue, a toilet intervened. It turned out that the government owned the public toilet next door – and the government decided not to sell. No sale meant no McDonald’s. “Due to community concerns, I have not approved the sale of public land adjacent to Chisholm Tavern,” Planning Minister Mick Gentleman said. The owner of the pub, Jenny Joy Hunt, was pleased. She and her husband have been running the Chisholm Family Tavern for nearly three decades. “We’ve been here for such a long time,” she said. “It’s our 30th anniversary this year so I was hoping to make it to the 30th anniversary.” She does accept that McDonald’s didn’t get its way on a technicality. Barely a month ago, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved the company’s development application. “I think it was great that McDonald’s didn’t win on the technicality of the public toilets,” the publican said. “The community support was outstanding. We couldn’t have done it without the community. We hope to be here for a few more years yet. That’s the way that I think it should be.” The pub will now be spruced up. She and her husband had held off spending on carpets and paint because of the likely closure. In the bar, they were happy. “It’s been a big issue,” regular Ian Grant said over his schooner of VB. “The people I speak with don’t want a McDonald’s because of the parking. A lot of people are worried about litter.” He conceded, though, that some people did want the fast-food restaurant there. The public campaign was led by ACT Legislative Assembly member Joy Burch. “The community raised their voice and concerns about this proposed development and they were very clear in their objections to a McDonald’s at Chisholm shops,” she said. He would welcome the sprucing up. Thirty years ago, the pub wasn’t a “family pub”. “It was a pub for young people. It was loud, but now it’s living up to its name (of Chisholm Family Tavern). It’s a nice place to bring your kids and family.” His co-drinker, Luis Villasevil, who left Spain for Australia 40 years ago and who hasn’t been back said: “I like the family atmosphere.” One of the unexplained twists of this david-and-goliath story is that one of the strongest objectors to the McDonald’s development failed to put his objections to the tribunal so McDonald’s got the green light. Traffic management and car parking issues had been resolved with Transport Canberra so the tribunal approved the development. But then the toilet got in the way. For faster access to the latest Canberra news, download The Canberra Times app for iOS and Android.
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How a local family pub flushed Big Mac away
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A last minute rescue has saved a local pub and blocked McDonald’s.
news, latest-news, Chisholm tavern, chisholm mcdonald’s, chisholm maccas
2021-02-11T02:00:00+11:00
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6230660782001
https://players.brightcove.net/3879528182001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6230660782001
How a local pub beat McDonald’s
They are raising a glass in the Chisholm Family Tavern after it was saved from closure by a last-minute intervention from the ACT government.
McDonald’s had gone through all the right procedures and been given approval for a new fast-food restaurant on the same block of land. All seemed lost for the pub.
But out of the blue, a toilet intervened.
It turned out that the government owned the public toilet next door – and the government decided not to sell. No sale meant no McDonald’s.
“Due to community concerns, I have not approved the sale of public land adjacent to Chisholm Tavern,” Planning Minister Mick Gentleman said.
The owner of the pub, Jenny Joy Hunt, was pleased.
Owner of the Chisholm Family Tavern, Jenny Hunt. Her pub has been saved because the ACT government has refused to sell the public toilet next to the pub. Picture: Elesa Kurtz
She and her husband have been running the Chisholm Family Tavern for nearly three decades.
“We’ve been here for such a long time,” she said. “It’s our 30th anniversary this year so I was hoping to make it to the 30th anniversary.”
She does accept that McDonald’s didn’t get its way on a technicality. Barely a month ago, the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal approved the company’s development application.
“I think it was great that McDonald’s didn’t win on the technicality of the public toilets,” the publican said.
“The community support was outstanding. We couldn’t have done it without the community. We hope to be here for a few more years yet. That’s the way that I think it should be.”
The pub will now be spruced up. She and her husband had held off spending on carpets and paint because of the likely closure.
In the bar, they were happy.
“It’s been a big issue,” regular Ian Grant said over his schooner of VB.
“The people I speak with don’t want a McDonald’s because of the parking. A lot of people are worried about litter.”
He conceded, though, that some people did want the fast-food restaurant there.
The public campaign was led by ACT Legislative Assembly member Joy Burch.
“The community raised their voice and concerns about this proposed development and they were very clear in their objections to a McDonald’s at Chisholm shops,” she said.
He would welcome the sprucing up. Thirty years ago, the pub wasn’t a “family pub”.
Chisholm Tavern regulars, Luis Villasevil and Ian Grant, are pleased the tavern has been saved from the building of a McDonald’s on the site by the ACT government refusing to sell the public toilets. Picture: Elesa Kurtz
“It was a pub for young people. It was loud, but now it’s living up to its name (of Chisholm Family Tavern). It’s a nice place to bring your kids and family.”
His co-drinker, Luis Villasevil, who left Spain for Australia 40 years ago and who hasn’t been back said: “I like the family atmosphere.”
One of the unexplained twists of this david-and-goliath story is that one of the strongest objectors to the McDonald’s development failed to put his objections to the tribunal so McDonald’s got the green light.
Traffic management and car parking issues had been resolved with Transport Canberra so the tribunal approved the development.
But then the toilet got in the way.
