DFO laughs off story about setting up here

Jane Emerick
DFO operators yesterday laughed off a report the company would open a store in Torquay.
A spokesperson for Austexx, the company behind development of Torquay’s former primary school site, said the report was wrong.
“Austexx, the developer of DFO, will also be the developer of Torquay Central and that’s where the association ends,” the spokesperson said.
“There will not be a Direct Factory Outlet in Torquay and claims otherwise are untrue.”
A frontpage newspaper report yesterday said a DFO would be part of the company’s Torquay Central project.
The spokesperson said Torquay Central would incorporate “lifestylevillage” designs blending fashion outlets with “premium” cafés.
“The ability to group 30plus stores together immediately creates an offer and an impact for a product category that does not exist in Torquay,” the spokesperson said.
National retailers such as Portmans, JacquiE, Just Jeans, Peter Alexander, Victoria Station, Adairs and Industrie would feature at the shopping precinct, the spokesperson said.
Development of Torquay Central followed two years of angry debate over the site.
However, ratepayers were yesterday relieved to learn a DFO would not open in their neighbourhood.
Surf Coast Community and Ratepayer Association’s Lyn Smith said factory outlets did not belong in the centre of town.
Torquay Commerce and Tourism Association president David Muir said his group welcomed the new retailers.
“We welcome investment and infrastructure coming into town,” he said.
“It will benefit employment, increase competition and allow local people to have retailers they would otherwise have to travel to Melbourne and Geelong to access.”