Longer trading hours continue, Busselton

One year after taking effect, extended retail trading hours in Busselton have been given the tick of approval to remain in place.

Following a City of Busselton review of the year-round allowances, an officer’s recommendation to maintain the status quo was presented in a report to the council and adopted without debate at last week’s meeting.

The review included consultationon the impact of extensions until 7pm on weekdays, 9pm on Thursdays and 6pm on weekends for the 12 general retailers with more than 18 employees.

Three written responses were received indicating support for continuation of current hours, with one recommending a further increase in weekday trading.

Geographe Bay Tourism Association also weighed-in, noting that maintaining extended hours “is essential if Busselton is to remain competitive in its own right” as it put them on a level playing field with other tourism towns including Margaret River and Dunsborough.

An additional survey sent to 250 Busselton Chamber of Commerce and Industry members resulted in five positive responses and one opposing submission from IGA, which was part of the Busselton Retail Trading Hours Alliance consisting of 41 small to medium businesses.

“The minimal amount of feedback provided by retailers through this review process suggests that generally the business community supports the current trading regime,” City community and commercial services director Naomi Searle said in the report to the council.

The report suggested the extensions were seen as striking an appropriate balance between Busselton’s previous trading hours and Dunsborough, where retailers could open until 9pm every day, and any reduction would be perceived as a backward step.

“It is imperative that as Busselton continues to attract major events and tourists to the region, and continues to progress as the major regional city outside Perth, that similar services are provided that support the growth of the tourism industry and local economy,” the report concluded.

BCCI chief executive Ray McMillan attributed lack of widespread input to the consultation to proprietors involved or likely to be affected being “sick and tired” of surveys and wanting to get on with business.

“Even those who aren’t opening the full hours welcome the flexibility to be able to do so,” he said. Mr McMillan said he hoped small businesses would continue to capitalise on more consumer traffic.