By NICOLE WILLIAMS
PAKENHAM is now home to eight supermarkets after Woolworths officially opened the Arena store on Wednesday, its fourth in the area.
Cardinia Shire Council has defended its decision to allow the additional supermarket, given another Woolworths store was opened at the other end of Cardinia Road in December.
Cardinia Shire Council’s economic development coordinator Andrew Pomeroy said the Pakenham area was undergoing rapid growth.
“Looking ahead, this means the new Woolworths on Cardinia Road will be beneficial, and even necessary, to meet the needs of such a large community,” Mr Pomeroy said.
“It will boost the shire’s economy and provide local jobs for the many people moving into the area.”
Mr Pomeroy said the location of the shopping precinct was perfect for residents in nearby housing estates, including Arena at Officer
“Residents in the estates in which the supermarket is located will appreciate the convenience of the store being close by,” he said.“Many will be able to ride or walk to get their groceries, which will decrease the number of vehicle trips required for these residents to do their shopping.”
The Arena shopping centre, on the corner of Cardinia Road and Princes Highway has been under construction for months and local MP Laura Smyth and Cardinia Shire councillors George Blenkhorn and Collin Ross attended the event on Wednesday morning.
The $8 million Woolworths supermarket has already established what it hopes will be a long-standing sponsorship with Officer Primary School and Cougars Soccer Club.
Store manager, Lincoln Smalley, handed over $1500 donations to both clubs at the opening.
“We will donate to support them and help with fund-raising,” he said. “I have spent the last month talking to schools and I personally selected these two.”
Mr Smalley said he wanted to support the smaller school and sports club which ordinarily might not have received as much support.T
hey repaid the favour on Wednesday with the soccer club doing demonstrations outside the store and the school putting up an art display.
The Arena Woolsworths store currently has 86 staff but is already looking to employ more.
“We are proud that the opening of Woolworths sees us welcoming 105 new people to the company … local to the community in which we operate,” Mr Smalley said.
The store hopes to connect local shoppers with local producers, stocking many locally grown fruit and vegetables.
“Our aim is to connect customers directly with our fresh producers as much as possible,” he said.
“With 100 per cent of fresh meat and 96 per cent of fresh fruit and veg sourced from around Australia and, where possible, sourced even closer to home at Kooweerup and other local areas.”
Opening specials will be available from the store for the next two weeks.
