Elsie Lange
Welcomed by business and tourism, a Coles has been conditionally approved on Romsey’s Main Street by Macedon Ranges council – however questions have been raised about its location.
On Friday, January 27, council announced it had conditionally approved the application for a supermarket and shop “with a permit subject to the formal planning process concluding”.
“A Notice of Decision to Grant a Planning Permit has been issued to applicant Coles Group, outlining a series of conditions to be met as part of the development, which include matters such as lighting, footpaths, fencing and landscaping,” council said.
The supermarket is proposed to be built at 51-65 Main Street, to the south of Barry Street, rather than to the north where the existing supermarket is located within the town’s main shopping strip.
Hal Pritchard, a founding member of community action group Better Futures Romsey, said while it was “abundantly clear” the community wanted a second supermarket, the group would like to see the Coles “next to all the other shops”.
He cited a 2021 Romsey Structure Plan Economic Assessment completed for council, which recommended any additional supermarket be encouraged to locate in the core town centre in the commercially zoned land north of Barry Street.
“The concern is it will divide the economic centre,” Mr Pritchard said.
“Given the current main part of Romsey already has multiple vacant shops in it, it’s only likely to exacerbate the emptiness we’ve got there instead of concentrating what we have in one location.”
However, Romsey Region Business and Tourism Association (RRBATA) president Jenny Stillman said the group welcomed the development to the south of Barry Street.
“The proposed Romsey supermarket location, being to the south of the town, has convenient proximity to the school and kinder,” she said.
She said the second supermarket would provide job opportunities for the local community, especially younger people.
“There is currently significant economic leakage from Romsey as many community members grocery shop elsewhere…This will potentially encourage more shopping locally, encourage other businesses to locate in Romsey and therefore create more local jobs,” she said.
Macedon Ranges mayor Annette Death said an estimated 2000 people moved to Romsey and surrounds between 2011 to 2021 and the proposed supermarket was a welcome response to population growth.
“Ideally it will complement the existing independent supermarket and other shops in Romsey, providing more choice for surrounding residents as well as more employment opportunities,” she said.
