Wednesday, 26 September 2007
by Damien Madigan
Critics of a possible new supermarket development in Springwood have fired a pre-emptive strike at council before it has even called for expressions of interest from the private sector to revitalise the town.
In a full page advertisement in last week’s Blue Mountains Gazette, local resident Andrew Bell said a major supermarket development would destroy the town’s “unique village atmosphere” and send many businesses broke.
And his warning has been backed by a former Springwood Chamber of Commerce president and a former councillor who have both criticised council’s approach to the revitalisation.
Springwood real estate agent Lindsay Curry said council’s plans were a “program for a death march of Springwood business” and would “lead to the bankruptcy of business proprietors and property owners” if implemented.
Mr Curry said Springwood’s projected eight per cent population growth over the next 15 years would not support the introduction of a major supermarket chain.
“The construction of a retail concrete edifice at the entrance to Springwood village will decimate the charm of the local shopping strip — the very charm which currently sets Springwood apart,” he stated in a submission to council.
Mr Curry saved his most scathing criticism for council’s plan to allow just a six week window for developers to submit proposals for the town centre. Councillors will vote whether or not to proceed with this timetable in October.
“The proposed six week timeframe for a proposer to compile and submit comprehensive plans is hopelessly inadequate for such a large project,” Mr Curry wrote.
“The minimal ‘window of opportunity’ reeks of favouritism of a preferred developer. A more realistic timeframe is three to six months.”
Any shorter timeframe would see the matter referred to the Independent Commission Against Corruption, he said.
One company almost certain to submit a plan during these six weeks is the retail powerhouse Woolworths.
The supermarket giant has already informally approached council about coming to Springwood, prompting fears it is driving the process, not council.
But Springwood’s ward councillors have all gone on the public record saying the process is driven only by a desire to revitalise the town and build new community facilities — something council can only afford to do with the help of the private sector.
The councillors have also stated there is no guarantee they will end up approving any of the private sector proposals.
Woolworths would most likely target the civic centre/library precinct, with council insisting the company replace both these facilities if a development is given the green light.
Former councillor Richard Jackson-Hope said council is wrong to consider any of these three sites and should instead look at public land behind Springwood shops along Greenway Lane for redevelopment.