Councillor Paul Clements’ elected member’s motion said that consolidating the City of Subiaco and Coles’ landholdings would allow the supermarket chain to redevelop and prevent it relocating to the proposed Station Street Market development.
The City unanimously rejected the ‘flawed’ land swap proposal with Coles in October 2012.
‘The argument that Coles should be given the gift of land swap just to save the markets makes no sense,’ Catherine Street resident Ines Janca said.
Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE
Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.
READ NOWSubiaco 7 Day Chemist owner and Subiaco Village Retail Association chairman David Maxwell said he did not want Coles to leave its present site but a redevelopment would ‘decimate our community’. ‘Make a decision for the benefit of all Subiaco retailers, not just one national giant,’he said.
Dallimores Homeware owner Jill Dallimore said she was disappointed the Coles redevelopment was back on the cards after such a strong refusal two years ago.
Crossways News owner Ray Harris said Coles redeveloping would be the ‘death knell’ for independent shops in the vicinity.
Cr Clements withdrew his first motion and a reworded alternative motion was not debated as it lapsed for want of a seconder.
Chief executive Stephen Tindale said he was confident the subject would not be discussed at council again.