Mornington Peninsula locals have lost a six-year fight to stop the development of a fast-food restaurant just metres away from the foreshore.

Concerns about traffic, litter, and impact on smaller businesses were raised.

Sand, salt and a servo have been the mainstays of the Safety Beach shoreline.

But now the tides of change are rolling in with the golden arches of McDonald’s looming.

For six years, locals have resisted, fencing out a commercial takeover.

But last week VCAT upheld an appeal to expand the service station and add a fast food outlet next door, calling the existing service station tired and outdated.

Mayor Anthony Marsh said it’s a “step too far”.

A major concern is the fear of traffic congestion.

“It’s a bit quiet now in mid-July, but if you were to come back in five months you’d find cars banked up for hundreds of metres on some days,” Marsh said.

“You have boats and a lot of jet-skis also navigating the intersection,” Dromana Association president Simon Brooks said.

There are also fears local businesses will face the squeeze.

After two knockbacks, a smaller development and promises to make room for traffic pushed the appeal through.