Opponents attack Port super plans

Kim Waters
A new supermarket at Portarlington would cause traffic and parking problems, according to potential competitors.
They have slammed the proposal for inadequate car parking but excessive floor space as two objectors drag the proponent before the state planning tribunal.
The proposal for a new Foodworks store includes a 1600-square-metre supermarket and a loading zone on Brown Street. The $6 million project is on hold pending the hearing at Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Objectors said the supermarket would be “surplus” to community demand and would “flood” the main street with traffic.
Portarlington Country Butchers owner Tony Lewer said the proposal’s 12 on-site car parks were inadequate.
“As a rule of thumb, supermarkets of that size need to provide at least 120 spaces,” Mr Lewer said.
“Council has allowed them to go ahead with only 12 car parks, which is a big difference and we don’t understand why. There will be heaps of traffic just spilling out onto the road and it will be quite dangerous.”
Portarlington IGA manager Jeff Agius welcomed the competition but said residents did not need a third supermarket in the area.
Mr Agius said Foodworks had rejected his store’s offer to rent the site.
“We were happy to change our store’s name and move into the new building on Brown Street once it was built but the 1500-square metre shop was too big for us and we requested they cut it back to 1200-square-metres instead.
“In winter there’s no way we’d have the customer turnover to run a store that big.”
Mr Agius said Foodworks was still advertising the site for lease.
The Independent was unable to gain comment from Foodworks.