Kiama local residents have largely welcomed news Kiama Village owners intend to bring an ALDI store and new car park to town.
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On Friday afternoon a Kiama Independent journalist asked five local residents shopping at Kiama Village if they thought expansion plans were good for the town, and if they would shop at ALDI.
The feedback from two elderly, two middle-aged and one high-school-aged residents was positive.
Kiama residents Karon Dawson and Bill Manson said they drive to Warilla Grove on a regular basis to do their groceries.
“I don’t like the car park (at Kiama), my car’s been scraped here,” Ms Dawson said.
“And yes, absolutely, this is good for the town. It means competition for Woolworths.”
Mr Manson said he is among a number of people from the retirement village who buy fuel and groceries outside of the Kiama Local Government area on a fortnightly basis.
“I come here (Kiama Village) to buy bread and milk when I need it,” he said.
“This might save me the trip.”
Mary Isemonger, who also lives at a Kiama retirement home said the expansion would address parking issues for motorists and her concerns about value for money at the supermarket.
“No matter what time of day you come, the car park is full,” she said.
“This is good (for Kiama), there is going to be competition.”
Kiama’s Eliyar Kaysar, 16, who said he is part of a relatively large family unit that already shops at ALDI, hopes the plans come to fruition.
“ALDI’s much cheaper, especially for families,” he said.
“It’s a good opportunity. I’d work at ALDI, I’d apply straight away.”
John Hart from Saddleback Mountain said he would shop at ALDI in Kiama.
“It’s great for the town,” Mr Hart said.
“Woolworths desperately needs the competition.”
Members of the public expressed cautious optimism, sharing their initial thoughts on the development via social media.
“Great to all,” Carmal Burgess said via the Kiama Independent Facebook page.
“The carpark is atrocious at the moment. Aldi will be great. Long-time coming but I hope it's real. Woolies needs competition. All they look after is the tourists. They should be looking after the locals. We are the ones that keep them going when all the tourists are gone.”
Earlier, the Kiama Independent revealed Kiama Village owners ISPT Super Property have lodged a development application with Kiama Council to bring an ALDI store to the shopping centre.
If the application receives council approval, the build is expected to start in mid-2020.
The development application includes an extension of the centre to accomodate for the ALDI supermarket, some new specialty stores and a new double-deck car park.
ISPT classifies Kiama Village as a convenience-based neighbourhood centre owned anchored by a Woolworths store and complemented by 16 speciality stores including The Reject Shop and Bakers Delight.
More to come
