Coles ‘could ruin the town’

25/01/2007

Save Bright says 41 businesses may go

By BRAD WORRALL
The Border Mail

OPPONENTS of the Coles supermarket in Bright say the multinational franchise could bankrupt 41 businesses in the town.

The Save Bright group told more than 300 residents, including four councillors, at a public meeting on Tuesday night it had the potential to be a disaster.

Spokesman Lee Rosser said an economic study by members of their group, that included accountants, said the supermarket would turnover $16.4 million.

“The average turnover of businesses in Bright is about $400,000, so that is the equivalent takings of 41 businesses,” he said.

“That would rob these businesses of their market and in doing so destroy the village nature of the town.”

The protesters are now planning a rally that would include shutting shops to simulate the effect the development could have on the town.

Mr Rosser dismissed claims that the supermarket mall would create jobs.

“We would argue that all we will see is a job shift rather than job creation,” he said.

“If it closes down butchers, bakeries and others the net effect maybe a loss of jobs.

“We are under no illusions, this is a commercial site that needs to be developed, we just don’t want this type of development.”

The supermarket plan, which includes a mall and five specialty shops, was lodged with Alpine council late last month and objections have now been extended to February 9.

It is earmarked for land on the corner of Gavan St and Star Rd and will include 105 car parks.

Yesterday Alpine council chief executive John Dixon said more than 1400 objections had been received but none had a detailed economic study of the proposal.

“Many of those are pro forma letters signed by individuals,” he said.

“We have only received 38 individual objections.

“If the Save Bright group have this economic data I’d encourage them to include it in one of the objections.”

But Mr Dixon said council would be asking the proponents of the mall for a social and economic benefit study.

“We are still seeking and gathering information at the moment,” he said.

“When we have all that information we will go back to the community before taking the matter to a council meeting.”

The Save Bright group are also likely to enlist the help anti-Woolworths protesters from the Sunshine Coast town of Maleny.

They lost the battle to keep the retailer out of their town but learnt valuable lessons in the process, Mr Rosser said.