I still have the photo of me wearing my Ronald McDonald paper hat with my little brother sitting on my left with sauce all over his face, and my cousin Belinda on the right helping me blow out my candles.

I'm not sure what I loved more, the McDonald's ice- cream cake or the two hours we spent on the play equipment afterwards.

After months of fence sitting I've come to the conclusion that McDonald's in Picton could be a positive thing.

There will be more than 100 jobs available for locals and we will actually have something open on Argyle Street after 6pm on weekdays and on weekends.

Yes, we are a nice quiet town that's proud of our heritage but so is Mittagong, packed with locals and tourists every weekend and it has a McDonald's.

I'm not saying Mittagong is more popular because of the golden arches, but it gives consumers a choice which is never a bad thing.

My favourite comment made throughout the entire McDonald's debate was from a local businessman who asked ``how terrible would it be to have increased traffic driving through our town's main business centre?''

There's a fine line between a peaceful sleepy town like Picton and a run-down dilapidated town with empty shop- fronts that appeal to vandals.

And when it comes to traffic, one reader pointed out that we have cars from Woolies, House Warehouse, KFC, a chemist and other stores coming from one driveway in Tahmoor without major problems.

McDonald's won't take away our rolling hills, heritage buildings or our beautiful people. But it will give locals and visitors more choice and will be a lifeline for local sports teams and community groups who struggle for sponsorship.

I respect the residents who oppose Maccas in Picton, but the four-year-old girl in me who loves ice-cream cake, the 17-year-old teenager in me who struggled to find work close to home and the 26-year-old who wants to see our town come to life can't sit on the fence anymore.

mfenech@fairfaxmedi a.com.au