Woolworths asked to reconsider site of proposed development for Shearwater

Woolworths will be asked to reconsider the site of its proposed development at Shearwater.

Spokesperson for the Save Our Seaside Village, Mr Guy Barnett said today that plans for a new town centre including a major chain supermarket, 700 meters from the existing Shearwater town centre was crazy planning. We will be writing to Woolworths saying the establishment of a new town centre will split the community and cause significant detrimental economic and social impact. It will fragment the town in this small community hurting retailers, businesses, employees and their families but also the tourism potential and amenity of Shearwater and the surrounding areas. The elderly will find it particularly difficult, he said

“We have confirmation that any major new development can and should occur in the existing town centre. The Latrobe Council did not undertake a retail floor space audit of the existing town before approving plans for a new town centre so we did. It confirms there is plenty of room for expansion in the existing town. It is madness to split Shearwater in two. It is a beautiful and well loved community of just over 4000 people. This is not Hobart or Melbourne.

“We will be advising Woolworths that the community is opposed to a new town centre and splitting it in two. We have over 2600 petitions to prove it, which is a majority of our community, Mr Barnett concluded.
Guy Barnett