Support for retail change in Busselton

A Busselton pharmacist has weighed into the retail trading hours debate, lending support to the proposal by Busselton Shire Council to apply year-round extensions.

In August, the council endorsed the introduction of trading until 7pm on all week nights excluding Thursdays, 6pm on Saturdays, and 10am opening and 6pm closing times on Sundays and public holidays.

Most public feedback was in favour of the recommendations.

Terry White Chemists Busselton pharmacist Doug Kelly told the Times he welcomed the changes, especially the move to allow businesses with more than 18 employees to open one hour earlier on Sundays and better cater to tourists and the public.

“Everything opens at 11am … (10am) would be much more user friendly for everyone,” he said.

Mr Kelly said extended weeknight trading would reflect the needs of a modern community and encourage other small operators to follow suit.

“The issue has always been in Busselton that the pharmacy is open because people need the services and Coles and Woolies are open, but nothing else is,” he said.

“The supermarkets will like it because they are normally pushing people out the door at 6pm.

“I think we’ve just got to move with the times. As we are growing and getting bigger and everyone is working later and longer hours, we can’t just operate 9 to 5 anymore.”

Busselton Chamber of Commerce chief executive Ray MacMillan encouraged other businesses to support change and said Busselton Central and Busselton Boulevard shopping centre businesses would particularly benefit from passing trade to and from supermarkets.

He said he hoped the proposed marginal increase in hours would be a tepping stone for “eventually” aligning rules with Dunsborough, which allows trading until 9pm every day of the year, to ensure consistency throughout the region.

“Let’s get this one through first and then go on from there,” he said.

Council community and commercial services director Naomi Searle confirmed five submissions were received in the comment period earlier this month.

Four were in support, although one was against ANZAC Day trading, with the Busselton Retail Trading Hours Alliance representing the opposing view.

A formal resolution of council will be made at the October 12 meeting.