McDonald’s push into regional Australia angers health experts amid warnings of ‘food deserts’

The expansion of McDonald's over the next two years will see a big push into regional Australia, which experts say bodes well for local economies but not their population's health.

Of 100 new McDonald's Australia restaurants set to open in the next two years, about a third will be opening in regional and remote areas.

Cameron Newlands, a senior director of the restaurant group, said growth in population as well as investment from government and business in regional areas was driving where they would open.

"Anywhere north of 5,000 [people] is something we'd consider," Newlands said. "But other characteristics like traffic flow, tourism and growth potential are just as important."

But the move could be controversial in towns that have battled to keep the fast food giant out of their backyards. Tecoma, on the edge of Melbourne, fought unsuccessfully to stop a McDonald's development and Tamworth council faced controversy when it approved its fourth Mcdonald's outlet in a town that suffers high rates of obesity.

Megan Belot, the president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia, said the expansion was not a positive outcome for rural patients who already have an increased risk of obesity.

"It's nice to think that there's going to be more jobs and opportunities for our younger people to work in a place like McDonald's, but realistically we don't need fast food in our smaller rural communities," Belot said.