Workers are having a tough time reaching the site of a McDonald's fast food outlet scheduled for construction in Victoria, with protestors trying to halt work on a project they deem “unwanted”.

Staff from a local demolitions company say they have been forced to bail out of several days work while protestors barricade themselves on the roof of the building which will be destroyed to make way for the McDonald's outlet. Protestors sometimes in groups of two have held the roof for over a week now, also hindering the removal of asbestos from the old building. They are believed to be members of anti-McDonald's groups which have grown in numbers since the issue was ignited.

A spokesperson from the BR Demolition company said: “I don't even care if McDonald's gets to build. We're just here to demolish properties...with protesters on the roof, we can't do anything.”

An online petition against the project has gained thousands more signatures since it was presented to McDonald's Australia boss Catriona Noble in Sydney last week. Skye Oxenham from McDonald's Australia said the company will work towards continued construction at the site, with safety a number one concern.