AMID a sea of agendas, obfuscation and half-truths, there are two irrefutable facts in the debate surrounding a new Dan Murphy’s superstore for Tamworth.
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Tamworth Regional Council should never have sold off Prince of Wales Park without public consultation and a discount liquor outlet can only exacerbate the city’s alcohol-fuelled crime epidemic.
It’s only through the prism of these cold facts can the issue be judged.
Council can hardly feign shock at the backlash to the planned development.
Not only did it sell an inner-city public space to be leased to big business, but it did so without notifying its shareholders – the ratepayers.
Invoking a commercial-in-confidence clause does not absolve council from a failure of its core responsibility to consult over matters of intense public interest.
And while it’s true the new development will bring with it jobs and further choice for consumers, there’s a hell of a sting in the tail, as independent service stations, butchers and corner stores have learned in recent years.
The emergence of the “big two” supermarkets in these sectors has seen competition – and a host of mum-and-dad businesses – obliterated, only to see prices mysteriously inflate once they are gone.
Consumers invariably buy on price and in many cases liquor behemoths like Dan Murphy’s are able to sell products at prices lower than independent outlets can even buy them.
Woolworths’ promise it will close one of its two BWS outlets if Dan Murphy’s gets across the line is a token concession.
Comparing Dan Murphy’s, which runs on a business model of 5 per cent mark-up on a turnover of at least $250,000 a week, to BWS is like comparing McDonald’s to a milk bar.
And you better believe bringing the nation’s biggest booze discounter to Tamworth will have an affect on alcohol consumption and crime, despite the specious line being trotted out by some.
Of course, every debate has shades of grey and for many in the community, a Dan Murphy’s will be a welcome new player in the market.
But the question ultimately for residents is what price progress?
Is saving a couple of dollars on your case of beer really worth the hangover for the community?