The Southern Car Park firstly fronts some of the most picturesque sights of the mountains. To develop this site would mean to lose these views.
The land itself is an odd shape and will be hard to develop.
Most importantly, the site will probably attract a new supermarket into the centre. This will be predatory to existing business. I do not believe that the Council objective is to destroy existing businesses but rather to support both local business and offer greater retail and social amenities to the local community.
As the owners of the IGA (Franklins) site adjoining the Northern site, we have been for more than 10 years trying to talk to Council and the adjoining Crown Land owners to take possession of the site to amalgamate our site.
We believe that by adjoining the current Franklins supermarket site and therefore enlarging the current tenancy we will not be destroying any local business by bringing in a third supermarket.
We also intend to increase the current parking by providing parking on the old scout site. We also believe that this site is best suited for development as this site does not block the scenic views of the mountains as will be the case if the Southern Car Park is developed. We also believe that as part of the development on the northern site the existing civic amenities should remain.
The Civic site should remain as is. The Civic site should be improved and reinvigorated.
If a development is put on this site this would induce and create a new retail precinct into our area that is suffering.
I would ask Council to just look at High Street Penrith and Dover(?) Street St Marys where new precincts exist and the damage done to the main streets.
The Macquarie Road main street precinct should be promoted not denegrated.