Australian Coffee Shop At The Crossroads

Are you ready to rumble?

The Australian coffee company Muzz Buzz operates some forty-two stores across Western Austria.

However, the regional chain has come under a fair bit of flack from parents after plans of a brand new store in Kalgoorlie became public knowledge.

The proposed site is within a few hundred metres of two primary schools and is to be located at one of the city’s busiest intersections. Naturally, parents are worried about the safety risk of additional traffic in an already congested area.

Chantelle McKay, a parent, told the broadcaster ABC, “In the peak times the kids are going to and from school, it is bound to be an accident waiting to happen.”

“It is the worst possible intersection you could pick in town,” she added.

According to reports, neither of the two nearby schools were consulted during the planning period.

Muzz Buzz’s chief executive, Warren Reynolds, has moved to try to allay some fears.

“There has been a huge amount of effort put in to traffic management, professional assessment, and making the site as safe as it could possibly be,” he said.

“I don’t believe that there is anything on that site that would pose any kind of additional threat to anybody, anywhere.”

Predictably, Kalgoorlie’s residents dismissed those statements.

Even the city’s former Mayor, Esther Roadnight, got involved.

“I am flabbergasted that schools and others in the area were no even consulted.

“Busiest between 6-8am? Rubbish.”

Harsh words indeed.

Nevertheless, members of the city council have said that the project met all the requirements of the town’s planning scheme.

Going forwards, the city council is to work with Muzz Buzz to address the concerns of the community.

Oh, and they have finally (and officially) let the schools know of the plans.

Where do you stand on this issue?