Supermarket owners launch ‘Save Our Shops’ campaign as German giant Kaufland moves in

INDEPENDENT supermarket owners have lashed out at the Andrews Government and German retail giant Kaufland, after the superstore company had their Melbourne sites fast-tracked by “going around local government planning processes”.

INDEPENDENT supermarket owners have lashed out at the Andrews Government’s decision to fast-track the planning process for a German retail giant wanting to set up shop in Melbourne.

Kaufland, owned by the world’s fourth-largest retailer, is pushing to open massive supermarkets in Dandenong, Epping, Oakleigh South, Coolaroo, Chirnside Park and Mornington.

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The stores would sell everything from car tyres to cheese slices and would be on sites which are at least 17,000 square metres — about four or five times larger than the average Coles or Woolworth supermarket.

Kaufland succeeded in lobbying Planning Minister Richard Wynne to call in its planning applications, which are expected to be finalised by the end of this year.

It has prompted an angry response from IGA, FoodWorks and Friendly Grocer store owners, who will on Thursday launch a “Save Our Shops” campaign, petitioning locals share their concerns with Premier Daniel Andrews.

The German retail giant is planning six stores in Victoria.

Master Grocers Association chief Jos De Bruin accused the government of giving the German chain “an unfair advantage over local stores”.

“By going around local government planning processes and using the minister to rezone so a mega store can be dropped on to communities, they are undermining local voices,” he said.

“Premier Dan Andrews can save our local small businesses and give local communities a voice today by giving the planning powers back to local councils where they belong.”

A spokeswoman for Mr Wynne said the advisory committee process would “ensure we get the best outcomes for local communities and Victoria”.

She encouraged the members of the public to share their views.

The terms of reference for the advisory committee said Mr Wynne “considers the proposed rollout of stores has the potential to deliver significant economic and employment benefit across the state, as well as greater retail choice for Victorians”.

Kaufland’s proposed stores are in several different planning zones, most of which would normally cap the size of new supermarkets, but it says it ideally wants to build on sites of 20,000 to 30,000 square metres.

The company also wants to set up its Australian headquarters next to the proposed Oakleigh South store.

Kaufland owns almost 1300 stores across seven European countries, and describes itself as a “one-stop shop meeting place that covers people’s everyday needs”.

The advisory committee will hold public hearings next month and must deliver a report to Mr Wynne within 20 business days after that.

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