Residents living around ‘The Block’ are upset after a makeshift McCafe erected across the street suddenly stopped serving them free coffees – and complaints are growing over tradies parking in front of their driveways.
The McDonald’s McCafe has been built on the verandah of a home directly across the street from the homes being renovated for the popular Channel Nine reality series on Charming Street in Melbourne‘s Hampton East.
The stall has been in place for the past seven weeks, dishing out free beverages to both tradies and residents up until last week when the Macca’s goodwill to neighbours suddenly ended.
The controversy comes hot on the heels of reports neighbours are still angry about access being blocked to their homes by those working on the show.
Umbrellas and tables have been erected for tradies working on The Block . Locals are now banned from free coffees
Tradies enjoy a cool drink from the McCafe on Charming Street across the road from The Block
A source within McDonald’s told Daily Mail Australia workers had been told by Bayside Council staff to immediately stop serving members of the public.
‘The council said McDonald’s is not allowed to serve the neighbours because someone snitched to council … so one person has effectively closed it down for everyone,’ the source said.
On Monday McCafe staff were busy dishing out drinks to a sea of orange vested tradies.
Neighbours told Daily Mail Australia they were disappointed at the decision to ban them from the McCafe.
‘It was a great meeting point to not only catch up with other neighbours, but to talk to the workers and find out what was happening with The Block,’ one neighbour said.
Another neighbour claimed no-one had any issues with the McCafe and were shocked to hear they could no longer be served there.
‘So someone has ruined it for us all. That’s a real shame,’ the resident said.
Scott Cam is host of The Block
The Block as it looks from the McCafe across the road
The neighbour at the centre of the McNightmare told Daily Mail Australia he had complained to Bayside Council after learning McDonald’s had erected the McCafe without any form of permit.
The neighbour claimed he was told by council staff the McCafe did not require a permit because it was not charging anything for its products.
In correspondence seen by Daily Mail Australia, a Bayside Council staffer stated the McCafe did not fall within the definition of a food and drink premises.
‘This is because (as we currently understand) they are not selling coffees to customers. If there is a monetary exchange, a planning permit may be required,’ the staffer stated.
‘In addition to this, the signage would not fall within business identification signage and would therefore not require a permit.’
Tradies have come under fire for parking illegally around The Block in Hampton
This letter sent by Channel Nine to Charming Street residents went down badly
A truck helping out construction on The Block parked in front of a fire hydrant
The disgruntled neighbour said Bayside Council had opened the floodgates for other like minded corporate giants to pull similar stunts within the municipality.
‘So seems fair game I can rent out my front yard for a few months to a corporate entity for their advertising. Give away specials for free, erect signage and corporate branded umbrellas and not have to supply any insurances for the general public coming on my land in case they hurt or injure themselves,’ he said.
‘Would be a good side income for any Bayside resident knowing they can do this with their property.’
Bayside Council did not respond to Daily Mail Australia in time for publication and Channel Nine did not wish to respond.
On Sunday, a resident close to the filming site shared their fury after one of ‘The Block’ stars ‘illegally’ blocked entry to their private driveway. The member of the community shared a snap of the incident on the Facebook page 2023 Charming St ‘The Block’.’
The photo showed scaffolding and fences around ‘The Block’ site, along with multiple tradie vehicles parked on the street.
The Block creator and executive producer Julian Cress under fire over parking his $500,000 Porsche 911 Turbo S on the street
‘This is moments after I had a go at The Block guys because a certain star had parked his car illegally again in the no standing zone, and because there was a car parked on our side of the street it was impossible for me to get in the driveway,’ the resident stated.
‘If you know the area you’ll note the car was moved to another part of the no standing area. This was all after I sent an email a few days [ago] to the builders and [executive producer] Julian Cress asking them to tell people not to do it. Come on guys…do better!’
In March, Daily Mail Australia reported residents were angry with Cress himself after parking his $500,000 Porsche on the street.
Some residents were also upset when asked by Channel Nine to move their cars so a 1950s-themed commercial for the hit reality-TV program could be filmed.
‘The Channel Nine producers handling of it has been nothing short of a joke,’ one resident said.
‘He literally told residents to move our cars but was okay for him to park wherever he liked.’
