The David versus Goliath battle between residents from a small Australian town and fast-food giant McDonald's has moved to Chicago.
A four person delegation from Tecoma, Victoria, followed by a posse of US reporters, will go to McDonald's global headquarters in Chicago on Wednesday (Thursday AEST) and attempt to hand over a petition with more than 94,000 signatures.
The Tecoma residents' group wants to block construction of a McDonald's restaurant, including a 24-hour drive-through, in their town of about 2,000 people.
Tecoma resident Garry Muratore, who spent most of Monday in interviews with Chicago newspapers and TV stations, said he was not sure what kind of a reception his delegation would receive at McDonald's headquarters.
"They know we're coming," Mr Muratore told AAP.
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"I rang them on Friday to let them know we were coming and they said, 'Just mail the petition to us'.
"I said 'No, we haven't come halfway around the world to just mail it' and then they wouldn't put my call through to anyone in their corporate responsibility department."
Mr Muratore said the proposed McDonald's is located too close to a kindergarten, primary school and national park, will change the landscape of the Dandenong Ranges town and will hurt local mum and dad businesses.
Mr Muratore said the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, NBC and other major US media outlets have interviewed his delegation.
As well as the petition on change.org, the group received $A40,000 through community donations that was used to fund the trip and pay for a $US15,000 half page ad in the Chicago Tribune.
