Property Council of Australia applauds the decision by the Bunbury City Council to deregulate trading hours describing it as a major win for businesses and consumers in Bunbury.
“Thanks to the far sighted Bunbury Council time poor residents in this bustling city will have greater retail choice and convenience,” said Mr. Joe Lenzo, Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia (WA Division).
Last week following a meeting of the full Bunbury City Council City of Bunbury applied to DOCEP to deregulate trading hours in line with a recent Council poll of Bunbury residents.
“This is a timely decision,” said Mr. Lenzo, “When the Perth to Bunbury highway finishes, the number of people coming into the region will increase dramatically and they will want to spend their money some where they know will be open.”
“Also, the amount of Gross Lettable Area in the deregulated areas surrounding Bunbury is increasing dramatically. This decision will give retailers in Bunbury a fair go.”
Deregulated retail areas in the South West region are blossoming with over 60,000 square meters of Gross Lettable Area approved for development in the already deregulated greater Bunbury region. With the Shopping Centres of Eaton Fair, Australind, Treendale and Dalyellup all involved in the development application process.
Bunbury’s decision to deregulate puts further pressure ahead of the State Election for all parties to outline their policy stance on trading hours deregulation in the Perth metropolitan area.
“By deregulating the City of Bunbury are now two steps ahead of metropolitan Perth, which still languishes with shops shutting earlier then Hobart,” said Mr. Lenzo.
