New Aldi to become fourth supermarket for growing Gisborne

ALDI property director spruiks new supermarket as ‘complementary’ to existing businesses in one of Melbourne’s outer growth areas.

GISBORNE will be home to an Aldi supermarket after Macedon Ranges Council gave the green light to what will be the township’s fourth supermarket at its April meeting.

Aldi will build a 1654sq m supermarket building on the north of the Aitken St site, formerly the Mitre 10, with 105 carparks, permitting both two-hour shopping and general parking.

The approval comes almost simulateneously with Yarra Ranges Council’s approval for an Aldi store in Healesville on the opposite northeast side of Melbourne.

● Aldi gets go ahead to open in Healesville and take on Coles

● Aldi gets OK to buy land for carpark in Gisborne

● Hundreds more car spots at Macedon Ranges stations

● Macedon Ranges’ unique character and iconic status to be ‘protected’

Aldi property director Jimmy Mouzakiotis told the Macedon Ranges Council meeting Aldi was likely to employ 12 to 15 equivalent full time workers once the supermarket was open. Many more would be employed as part of the build.

Mr Mouzakiotis said postcode surveys, conducted with shoppers at the Sunbury Aldi, found 20 to 25 per cent of shoppers there lived in and around Gisborne.

“We believe the amount of Gisborne shoppers visiting the Sunbury store probably underestimates the total retail spend lost to Gisborne,” he said.

Mr Mouzakiotis said Aldi complemented local businesses as their mainly in-house labels concentrated on a narrow range of products meaning many specialised retailers still got a look in from shoppers.

“Aldi complements residual businesses allowing them to thrive while at the same time driving down the prices of our major competitors which is a win for shoppers.”

Last year it was announced Aldi had bought council-owned land set aside for carparks next to the former Mitre 10 outlet for $600,000.

At the time the move drew some concern by the council which was mitigated by the fact the German supermarket retailer agreed to pay the full market rate for the land.

Gisborne already has Williamson’s FoodWorks, IGA and Coles, but is one of the shire’s fastest growing areas.

Aldi will build a new access road off Aitken St while the supermarket will also include a provision allowing for the sale of packaged alcohol.

Aldi was also slated to build a supermarket in Kyneton but withdrew interest in a Market St property in December.