Council support for more ALDIs

Jessica Benton
GEELONG’s council has backed ALDI’s plan to build eight supermarkets.
Council planning portfolio holder Rod Macdonald said he “welcomed” the $100 million expansion plan for Geelong and the Bellarine Peninsula.
“I’m very supportive of what ALDI is doing but it’s up to ALDI to come to us with proposals. I’d welcome any application,” Cr Macdonald said.
“As a city and a planning department, we’re always willing to look at proposals and judge them on their merits.
The Independent reported last week that ALDI wanted to build stores at Ocean Grove, Drysdale, Leopold, Grovedale, Newtown, Geelong West, Norlane and Lara.
Victorian managing director Tom Daunt called on council to “keep pace” with development after revealing his company considered Geelong among the most difficult places in Victoria to secure planning approval for new supermarkets.