THE City of Mandurah has knocked back a recommendation to extend Christmas trading hours.
The Peel Chamber of Commerce and Industry made the appeal on behalf of struggling small business at last night’s council meeting.
The appeal against aligning trading hours with those of the Perth metropolitan area came after further consultation by the Chamber resulted in an unprecedented amount of feedback.
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READ NOWThe Chamber runs an annual survey of its membership and the wider business community in relation to the extension of Christmas trading hours.
The survey has consistently provided mixed results between the consumer and their convenience, the creation of jobs and economic value and the retailer, both work force and business owners.
This year the Chamber, while supporting the extension of trading hours between December 16 and January 1, needed to run additional consultation and the results included an unprecedented amount of feedback.
Overall votes to the question Would You Support the City of Mandurah Aligning with the Perth Metropolitan Area’s Approved Trading House, were Yes 62 per cent and No 38 per cent.
The votes received specifically from the retail sector (including small business owners and retail workers) was 17 per cent for and 83 per cent against against.
Chamber general manager Andrew McKerrall said, based on Mandurah’s current socioeconomic landscape, evidence to support claims an increase in retail trading hours would increase local spend and employment, was weak.
“The current business climate in the Peel is tough and business owners are hurting,’’ he said.
“Now is not the time for Mandurah to align with the metro Christmas trading hours.”
Trading hours recommended for approval are:
December 16 and 23, 8am-6pm.
December 17, 18, 19, 21, 8am-9pm.
December 26, 8am-6pm.
January 1, 8am-5pm.