House of Assembly Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1) 52 1 Parliament of South Australia House of Assembly published Grievance Debate Woolworths, Murray Bridge WOOLWORTHS, MURRAY BRIDGE Mr PEDERICK House of Assembly Hammond Mr PEDERICK (Hammond) (15:59): I rise today to talk about the contribution that Woolworths has made to Murray Bridge over many years, since 1957. They came to Murray Bridge in 1957 with their first store, which was built on Bridge Street near the current Workskil site. The next store was opened on the corner of Bridge and Sixth streets, where I shopped with my family many years ago as a child. Back in those days, you found some boxes to put your groceries in, and I think that is a practice that should be reintroduced to supermarkets for recycling purposes. Mr Piccolo interjecting: Mr PEDERICK House of Assembly Mr PEDERICK: They did. What I want to speak about today is the opening of the Murray Bridge Marketplace Shopping Centre precinct, which mayor Allan Arbon and I were part of. There has been a vision to get some retail development of the Rural City of Murray Bridge, and this has been achieved. In the year 2000, negotiations commenced with the state government for the responsibility of transfer of crown land to the council. Over time, negotiations went on with the various people involved with this land, including the RSL whose clubrooms and bowling greens were on the land. In 2006, mayor Allan Arbon, the chief executive officer at the time (David Altmann) and council members revitalised the vision for a shopping centre development, which would incorporate a new library which would overlook the River Murray, through a preliminary expression of interest to develop the land. In 2007, there were negotiations with landowners to gain an agreement to sell the land, including obtaining crown land approval. The Murray Bridge council also appointed an agent to advertise and seek expressions of interest to develop the site. In 2008, the expressions of interest were received and council approved Fabcot's (Woolworths Pty Ltd) submission proposal. Negotiations commenced in 2008 between Fabcot and council in relation to the development of the site and the provision of a regional community library. Also in 2008, concept plans were received from Woolworths for the proposed shopping centre and library. As I indicated earlier in this contribution, last Thursday, along with mayor Allan Arbon, I was very privileged to assist in opening the new shopping precinct. There has been a $90 million investment. It is the biggest Woolworths development in South Australia, catering for the Murraylands and beyond to neighbouring towns and communities. When I say 'neighbouring towns and communities', this will involve communities as far out as Pinnaroo, Karoonda, the Riverland and Callington. All places around will come to the hub of Murray Bridge. It is the only Big W east of Adelaide, and it will also draw people from towards Bordertown and across the border. There are 51 specialty shops involved, with 92 per cent occupancy at the opening on Thursday 3 November. There are also water tanks in place to hold one megalitre on site, with the opportunity to harvest a further five megalitres. I wish to note that the Woolworths site is the site of the former RSL clubrooms and bowling greens and the cooperation of the RSL members of Murray Bridge, and Ray Duthie their president, in selling their site to the Woolworths corporation and getting their new fantastic facilities across the original bridge at Murray Bridge. Badge Constructions have done a great job, and it is a fantastic facility. I came up the travelator not knowing what to expect, and I could have been forgiven for thinking I was in the member for Bragg's electorate and in Burnside Village. It is flash. It is very nice. It is— Mrs Redmond House of Assembly Mrs Redmond: Has it got a great big tree? Mr PEDERICK House of Assembly Mr PEDERICK: No, there are no trees inside. This building was completed on time and close to budget. It will open up development opportunities in the future at the former Woolworths site on the corner of Bridge and Swanport roads. That will stay open for a while, but there are certainly opportunities for other operators, such as Foodland, to come into that precinct. I congratulate everyone involved in this project over the years: the council and all its members, Woolworths and Badge Constructions.