Vic anti-McDonald's protester charged

Police have dramatically intervened in a long-running protest at the proposed site of a McDonald's restaurant in outer Melbourne.

Up to 50 police moved in before dawn on Tuesday, using a cherry picker to remove a woman from the roof of the Tecoma site after weeks of protests involving dozens of residents.

The woman was charged with trespass and bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates Court.

Police said the operation, which had been planned for weeks, was to help large machinery gain access to the site.

Protest spokesman Garry Muratore, who estimated there were 200 protesters at the site early on Tuesday, said the police turnout was excessive.

"We're not terrorists, we're just mums and dads saying no," he told AAP.

Mr Muratore said the protesters would remain.

Acting Superintendent Paul Rosemblum defended the number of police involved in the intervention.

"We did bolster our police numbers today, but prior to today we hadn't been required to use a large number of resources," he told reporters.

"The fact that there was going to be heavy machinery going in ... (and) previous indications were that there was the potential for people to put themselves in harm's way."

He said police were deciding whether officers would join private security guards in maintaining a presence at the site.

McDonald's said it has consulted the community and always respected people's right to express opinions but not when it put themselves or others at risk.

"We have followed due legal process every step of the way to build a family restaurant," the company said in a statement.

"We're ready to get on with it and know there is much support from within the community."

They said the local franchise would create 100 local jobs, provide accredited training and work experience.

The Victorian Supreme Court last month ordered a temporary injunction blocking residents from disrupting the project, with the case due to return to court on August 27.