Aldi for Dickson

New Yeah said :

It would be nice to think so, wouldn’t it. But I wouldn’t bet on prices getting any lower.

I would definitely bet on it.

As would anyone who had the misfortune of moving out to gungahlin in the early 2000’s and “experiencing” how woolworths was run when it had a geographic monopoly, and then comparing it to how it was once coles opened up (night and day comparison). Service increased, prices decreased, it really was astounding.

Although the difference in moving from 2 to 3 retailers is likely to be less profound than the difference from moving to a geographic monopoly to a duopoly. But aldi is not a perfect substitute for coles and woolies anyway.

Overall I think it’s an unambiguously positive outcome. And it’s pretty rare I get the chance to say that.

“Two new supermarkets” does not guarantee that the existing supermarket (Woolworths) will remain open. Just remember what occurred at Manuka — when Coles opened in Manuka Terrace, the old Woolworths which had been there since the 60s (?) closed down since it was not able to compete with a brand new larger Coles.

Although if Woolworths did close, then something like a Farmers Market would work well on the site.

Aenveigh said :

There’s plenty of alternatives to driving to Dickson … I used to sometimes have trouble finding spare racks to lock up my bike to, there’s a bunch of buses through there (and a new Dickson interchange planned), and plenty of houses/apartments in walking distance.

Your suggestion for overcoming parking difficulties is to buy a house next to the supermarket? Not sure if that saves much money.

There seems to be a trend towards having a number of supermarkets close to each other. Ulladulla, for example, has gone from a smallish Franklins to a large Coles and now also has an Aldi and soon a Woolworths.

The big players arent idiots. If the money isnt there, they won’t build. So they must know something.

However, I’m not sure that the streets around Dickson can cope – its fine on Sunday morning but try to drive around anytime from about 5.15pm.

Thank you, Andrew Barr!

Skyring said :

johnboy said :

those worried about the parking should read the linked media release which, for what it is worth, is promising vast underground parking.

Yeah, but during construction there will be a huge loss of spaces, which is going to make parking in Dickson absolute hell for a couple of years.

And when it’s complete, there will be no more free parking. It will all be the “get a ticket at the boom gate” thing. As it stands now there are a few keenly-sought after free parks, parking is generally free at certain times, and if you are prepared to chance it from the parking inspectors – like leaving one person in the car while the other pops in to get a book from the library or something – parking is always free.

They should use dynamic pricing for the parking, as SFPark does. If demand is low, it’s free; if demand is very high, price goes up until there’s some vacancy (enabling you to get a spot if you must drive). There’s plenty of alternatives to driving to Dickson – I used to sometimes have trouble finding spare racks to lock up my bike to, there’s a bunch of buses through there (and a new Dickson interchange planned), and plenty of houses/apartments in walking distance.

http://sfpark.org/how-it-works/
http://www.reinventingparking.org/

nice_enough said :

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there, ….

HOLY crap, that is a great idea!

Personally i use Aussie Farmers Direct for groceries and my local IGA for incedentals like dunny paper. ColesWorth are dead to me…

Skyring said :

smeeagain said :

New Yeah said :

Three supermarkets?!?! I’m not sure that will work. Seems to be the same logic from the 70s whereby putting service stations next to each other was supposed to keep petrol price down.

Why not build one somewhere else, I dunno, maybe Gungahlin?

There is already an Aldi at Gunghalin…

Wouldn’t having two next to each other improve competition and drive prices down?

It would be nice to think so, wouldn’t it. But I wouldn’t bet on prices getting any lower.

smeeagain said :

New Yeah said :

Three supermarkets?!?! I’m not sure that will work. Seems to be the same logic from the 70s whereby putting service stations next to each other was supposed to keep petrol price down.

Why not build one somewhere else, I dunno, maybe Gungahlin?

There is already an Aldi at Gunghalin…

Wouldn’t having two next to each other improve competition and drive prices down?

Deref said :

Great news!

nice_enough said :

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there

Choku Bai Jo’s just around the corner at North Lyneham.

I do go there it’s great, but that’s nothing compared to the range you find at a fully fledged farmers market.

Also with “china town” around the corner having a farmers market in Dickson would turn Dickson into a foodies paradise. Which would be much nicer than a super market trolley wasteland.

johnboy said :

those worried about the parking should read the linked media release which, for what it is worth, is promising vast underground parking.

Yeah, but during construction there will be a huge loss of spaces, which is going to make parking in Dickson absolute hell for a couple of years.

And when it’s complete, there will be no more free parking. It will all be the “get a ticket at the boom gate” thing. As it stands now there are a few keenly-sought after free parks, parking is generally free at certain times, and if you are prepared to chance it from the parking inspectors – like leaving one person in the car while the other pops in to get a book from the library or something – parking is always free.

I also share the concern over the amount of business that *three* supermarkets can do. Unless there’s a threefold increase in customers, it just means that things will sit on the shelf for three times as long on average. Fine if it’s a bottle of plonk, not so good if it’s a bunch of grapes.

Great news!

nice_enough said :

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there

Choku Bai Jo’s just around the corner at North Lyneham.

New Yeah said :

Three supermarkets?!?! I’m not sure that will work. Seems to be the same logic from the 70s whereby putting service stations next to each other was supposed to keep petrol price down.

Why not build one somewhere else, I dunno, maybe Gungahlin?

FWIW I don’t think Dickson Woolies is anywhere near as crowded/slow/mania-inducing as it has been in the past.

There is already an Aldi at Gunghalin…

New Yeah said :

Three supermarkets?!?! I’m not sure that will work… Why not build one somewhere else, I dunno, maybe Gungahlin?

Because Gungahlin already has the big three.

those worried about the parking should read the linked media release which, for what it is worth, is promising vast underground parking.

gospeedygo said :

nice_enough said :

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there, something more like the markets in inner Melbourne, for example South Melbourne markets etc. Not sure having 2 or 3 supermarkets near each other offers REAL competition.

That idea makes far too much sense. It’ll never catch on.

Or you could drive your bullock dray a few minutes down the road to Choku Baijo in North Lyneham. Farmer’s market produce without the crowds.

Three supermarkets?!?! I’m not sure that will work. Seems to be the same logic from the 70s whereby putting service stations next to each other was supposed to keep petrol price down.

Why not build one somewhere else, I dunno, maybe Gungahlin?

FWIW I don’t think Dickson Woolies is anywhere near as crowded/slow/mania-inducing as it has been in the past.

nice_enough said :

Could get a nice purpose build structure and would really add to the atmosphere of Dickson, which around woolies is basically pretty droll (and even scary).

Droll means funny in a whimsical kind of way. Is that what you meant and how is that a problem?

I would like to buy things at ALDI, but Mr Poetix says he won’t eat anything that comes from there. I’ll try starving him into submission…Or lying.

Interested to know if there’s some kind of multi-level carpark involved in all of this? Even with 1 supermarket Dickson’s never been great for parking, less so after filling in the 2 main carparks with more shops.

Not sure I completely agree with the competition policy anyway. One shop is too well located and makes too much money – so let’s see how they like it when forced to split profits 3 ways! That’ll show ’em!

nice_enough said :

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there, something more like the markets in inner Melbourne, for example South Melbourne markets etc. Not sure having 2 or 3 supermarkets near each other offers REAL competition.

That idea makes far too much sense. It’ll never catch on.

I’d rather they moved the farmers markets down there, something more like the markets in inner Melbourne, for example South Melbourne markets etc. Not sure having 2 or 3 supermarkets near each other offers REAL competition.

Farmers Markets create more jobs and provide cheaper and better quality products and support the local region producers.

A Farmers Market in Dickson could be open 3-4 days a week (possibly more) instead of being crazy busy on just the Saturday. Could get a nice purpose build structure and would really add to the atmosphere of Dickson, which around woolies is basically pretty droll (and even scary).