By Chris Thomson | posted on March 1, 2018
ALBANY has the most restrictive shopping hours of any place with a Woolworths, Coles or ALDI in the south-western corner of the continent, and there are no plans to change the status quo.
The Weekender called every leader of the 11 local government areas with a Woolies, Coles or ALDI in the Great Southern and South West regions to gauge their views on deregulated shopping.
Of the nine leaders who got back to us, only Albany Mayor Dennis Wellington was unable to speak from a position of first-hand experience with extended hours in his area.
“I don’t know anyone that would go to a town just because it’s got seven-day trading,” he said.
One tourist who does not let his dislike for Albany’s shopping hours get in the way of visiting is Dardanup Shire President Mick Bennett.
“When I go down to Albany, I can never get anything,” he lamented.
“I come down there regularly and when I try to go shopping, I can’t.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love the way Albany operates when there’s a tourist ship in; they are magnificent at that.”
In Dardanup (population 14,233), where big supermarkets have been allowed to trade 24/7 since 1994, Coles and Woolworths operate 7am to 9pm seven days a week, and Kmart opens around the clock.
“Before deregulation, we didn’t have much shopping, a bit of a dormitory suburb [of Bunbury], really, and we thought it was time we branched out and got our own deal going,” Cr Bennett said.
“When they decided to come in, Kmart said: ‘Oh, this might put a bit of pressure on Perth if we can open 24 hours in a sleepy little place like Dardy’.
“We would be hung, drawn and quartered if we said we were going to change back.”
From Cr Bennett’s neighbouring City of Bunbury (population 34,467), Mayor Gary Brennan said total deregulation of shopping hours in 2015 was a likely factor in ALDI recently opening a supermarket there.
“The longer hours give business people and the community choice, that’s the key thing,” he said.
Mr Wellington said that during his 17 years on Albany council he had always absented from voting on shopping hours because he was a co-owner of Leading Edge Hi Fi.
He confirmed the city (population 37,233) had no plans to revisit the shopping hours debate, which last occurred in July 2016.
At the time, six elected officials – including current councillors Paul Terry, Ray Hammond, Bill Hollingworth and Alison Goode – voted down a plan by city tourism development manager Matt Bird that in 2019 the council consider consulting the community on extended shopping hours.
Capel Shire President Murray Scott said his local IGA had not suffered since extended trading was introduced for larger supermarkets in 2015.
“Capel’s got an IGA that’s open seven days and there’s always people there,” he said.
In Capel (population 17,316), the Dalyellup Woolworths opens 8am to 9pm every day.
Cr Scott said extended trading may have been a factor in Coles’ recent decision to buy a block of land across the road from Woolworths.
Murray Shire President David Bolt said that since seven-day trading was introduced there in 2012, ratepayers had embraced it.
“Seven-day trading supports increased visitation, in line with the shire’s and its community’s awakened tourism focus for Pinjarra and the wider Murray district,” he said.
From Augusta/Margaret River, where Woolworths and Coles trade 8am to 8pm seven days a week, Shire President Pam Townshend said locals and visitors “loved” the longer hours.
“I think the IGA was the one that struggled the most, but there’s such a big ‘shop local’ campaign in Margaret River from people who want to support the IGA, and they’re doing okay,” she said.
From Busselton (population 26,355), Mayor Grant Henley said he had not noticed any impact on small businesses since trading hours were extended in February 2015.
“Interestingly, we just had an ALDI open last year and an additional Coles supermarket,” he said.
“When the ALDI opened, they chose not to go on the full hours available.
“They’re more interested in the customers coming to them when they’re open, rather than because they’re open.”
In Manjimup, with a population of 9404, Shire President Paul Omodei said extended trading had worked “extremely well” since being introduced in September 2014.
“It certainly was a big step for a community with a lot of small businesses, but I certainly think it is working,” he said.
Harvey Shire President Tania Jackson said extended trading had probably been a factor in ALDI deciding Australind would be its first location in south-western Australia.
“We have certainly had some benefits, but I do feel the local smaller shops have either had to come along for the ride or deal with stiff competition from the [bigger players] now,” she said.
The shire presidents of Katanning (Liz Guidera) and Collie (Sarah Stanley) – where extended trading also occurs – did not return calls.
