Erskineville shoppers not so spoilt for choice

Another proposal for a Woolworths in Erskineville is before the Land and Environment Court, and there have been rumours of yet another in Eveleigh. Community group The Friends of Erskineville Village said it feared there would be a Woolworths supermarket in the proposed Eveleigh fresh markets redevelopment, just a short walk from their suburb.

The group said it hoped a recent Australian Competition and Consumer Commission decision to block Woolworths from buying an ACT supermarket on grounds of anti-competitiveness would discourage Woolworths from pursuing more supermarkets in the area.

The ACCC was also preparing to outline steps to boost competition in Australias grocery sector after an inquiry into supermarket prices, which Erskineville residents said it hoped would also dissuade the supermarket giant. Spokesperson Laura MacFarlane said Erskineville already had two supermarkets within walking distance and any more would be anti-competitive. The extremely close proximity of the Alexandria site to the Erskineville site would surely fit in with the ACCCs parameters of being anti-competitive in terms of monopolisation within an area, she said.

A Woolworths spokesman said the company had no plans for an Alexandria store, however the company previously denied it was behind the Erskineville supermarket DA, later admiting it had an agreement with the developer to operate a Woolworths if the DA was approved.

Source: Central 27th August 2008