If we lived in a sane municipality supermarket operators would buy land in suitably zoned areas based on perceived needs in the market.
But because this is not a sane municipality the central government decides where supermarkets will be, and who will operate them.
Witness the Chiefly Stanhope announcing second supermarkets for Dickson and Kingston, and new supermarkets for Casey (2 there in fact) and Amaroo.
Specifically:
Mr Stanhope said the Government had decided:
— Kingston – To release a site in the Eyre Street car park for a 3400 sq metre Supabarn supermarket as part of a mixed development;
— Dickson – To release a site for a large format supermarket to all players, except the incumbent Woolworths. The site, on the large surface car park adjacent to Woolworths, would be available for a store in excess of 2500 sq m;
— Casey – To release sites for ALDI and Supabarn, with a possible further release in three years for a large format supermarket site; and
— Amaroo – To release a site for a large format supermarket, with Woolworths and Coles excluded from participating.
Inner Northicans welcome a competitor to the widely loathed Woolworths, but we await with interest exactly where we will park while the new complex is built.