Survey of Mayoral candidates and councillors
Mosman Village Community has surveyed the five Mayoral candidates and the three current Councillors who are re-standing as councillors to get their views on current and future development issues in Mosman Village.
We sent a first email with the questions along with a follow-up email to all eight candidates/councillors.
Four candidates/councillors were kind enough to respond to our survey. In alphabetical order they were:
- Roy Bendall
- Carolyn Corrigan and Tom Sherlock jointly (as Serving Mosman)
- Simon Menzies
No response was received from:
- David Cook
- Sarah Harding
- Libby Moline
- Jacqui Willoughby
Below are the responses of the four candidates/councillors as provided to MVC, without editing or comment.
We hope they give you a clear insight into the views of these four residents who seek your vote to be your Mayor and/or councillor for the next 4 years.
Q1: On a ranking out of 10, what is your view of the impact of the Woolworths development in the centre of Mosman Village?
- 10 = excellent development
- 5 = neutral effect
- 1 = major harmful effects and unacceptable
Roy Bendall
It would be unwise of any Councillor to speculate on future impacts and providing numerical scores is an exercise in crystal ball gazing.
Councillors are responsible for planning policies and do not decide development applications.
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
Impact would be 1.
The main reason for this is that any large commercial development will place additional stress onto the already choked road network in and around Mosman. We think it is very unlikely that the proposed Metro will be a walk up “basket only” shop.
There are much more sensible places for a development of this nature – for example the old Cinema site or a site such as Mosman Toyota, placing the store close to major transport nodes and parking facilities.
We anticipate that the long-term adverse implications will be increased car and truck traffic and further pressure on parking around Mosman Junction (41 parking space shortfall). This will generate more choke and reduced pedestrian safety and amenity on Military Rd and on nearby feeder roads, eg Gouldsbury, the Crescent and Belmont.
Simon Menzies
1 = Major harmful effects and unacceptable.
It is the wrong location for a supermarket as it will cause traffic and parking problems (basement parking should have been a condition of approval) along with pedestrian and road safety issues in the narrow rear lane which will remain two way traffic flow.
Mosman is already well serviced by supermarkets and rather than consolidating 3 buildings into one site it should remain as 6 terrace shops with different offerings that would add to the retail mix of shops within the village.
The new development will not be in the public interest.
Q2: Would you consider an appeal of the Woolworths L&E Court Case if legal advice indicated there is potential for an appeal?
Roy Bendall
A decision to appeal any DA would be considered on its merits.
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
If legal advice indicated there were strong grounds for appeal we would most definitely consider appeal. However, if legal advice indicated there was no reasonable prospect, then we would not proceed.
You would be aware that Council could only appeal on the LEC process and not on the merits.
You would also be aware that Council and Councillors would not disclose any legal advice provided under privilege.
Simon Menzies
We should definitely appeal if there are legal grounds to do so.
Q3: What actions would you support, if any, to minimise any negative impacts of the Woolworths development?
Roy Bendall
Speculating on negative impacts and responses would be irresponsible as it may tie or exclude Councillors from courses of action in the future.
Any Councillor who ventures an opinion on this should not hold public office as they would not be taking a merit based approach to decision making.
Council must treat all applications on their merits, with the rule of law and the local planning instruments as their assessment criteria.
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
We would seek to manage traffic congestion during construction by construction conditions, to the extent possible given the LEC judgement.
Once in operation, the main negative impacts are likely to be pedestrian safety, increased traffic generation and insufficient parking.
We will probably wait until the size and scale of these problems become clear before attempting to mitigate them.
We would support investigating options and strategies relating to abutting landholdings, e.g. the Mosman Club, so that they could not be used to increase the Woolworths footprint.
Any additional purchase of land by Woolworths could potentially allow a much larger full-line supermarket to be developed in the future.
Indeed, we see this as the most likely future risk from this presently approved development.
Simon Menzies
Our shopping village needs better promotion to drive both sales and loyalty. A campaign should focus on the importance of supporting local small businesses and the families that operate them. We need to highlight that better service needs to be rewarded. And that money spent in Woolworths is leaving our community rather than sustaining it.
At my instigation Council experts developed a professional, coordinated and sustained shop local campaign plan.
It involves branding, promotion, activities and incentives rolled out over a 2 year period. It was also to include a Mosman Gift Card that would operate similar to a Westfields Gift Card but for Mosman shops.
Council staff presented this plan but it was rejected by councillors due cost. Instead the council donated $5000 to the Chamber of Commerce’s Think Mosman First campaign.
I am not critical of the Chamber or their campaign but they do not have the resources available to them that the council does. A Shop Local campaign on a much larger scale is required to combat both Woolworths and the growing tendency of locals shopping at Chatswood and Warringah Mall.
As Mayor, I will continue my efforts to see the council roll out a Shop Local campaign and welcome the chamber’s partnership and strategic advice.
Q4: Various estimates of the cost of the recent LEC case with Woolworths have been circulating in the community. Will you provide or do you support obtaining and making public an accurate costing from Council?
Roy Bendall
Releasing costings will be up to the newly elected Council as this current Council is in caretaker mode.
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
The full costs of the LEC case will, when all costs have been collated, be made public.
Note that we have some residents saying that too much has been spent, as well as others saying we should spend more.
We believe that the WW LEC case has been value for money, as it has been a vital part of maintaining and defending our planning system.
Simon Menzies
$270,000.
Q5: Would you oppose other future proposed developments on the scale of the Woolworth metro, or larger, in the Mosman Village?
Roy Bendall
The village atmosphere is very important to our community and helps provide Mosman with its unique style and ultimately its value, however as stated above Council must treat all applications on their merits.
Council has already decided to limit the size of future retail developments
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
We would again consider opposing large retail developments on the basis of traffic and parking and potential loss of village amenity.
All developments, however, need to be assessed on their merits.
Currently any future proposed retail development not exceeding 500 sq metres in the village would potentially be a permissible use.
Preserving the village atmosphere, managing traffic and maximising parking has been the unanimous mantra of all Mosman Councillors.
The Woolworths DA, under our current LEP, was largely permissible use with the exception of major non-compliance with the MDCP parking provisions for the size of the development.
The question of the lack of weight attached to the public interest is an issue of concern.
Public interest and public amenity, given the significant public opinion, was not explored adequately by the LEC.
Simon Menzies
I will strongly oppose any expansion of Woolworths and other inappropriate developments.
Council should be taking a leadership role in such matters and work closely with community groups such as MVC.
As Mayor, I would speak up on such matters as I did as a councillor.
Q6: What plans or actions, if any, would you support to stop similar or even larger supermarket developments being approved in the Mosman Village?
Roy Bendall
Council must treat all applications on their merits, however, I am sure the next Council will entertain submissions on zoning changes.
Carolyn Corrigan & Tom Sherlock
We have revised our LEP so that it has a limit on supermarket size of 500 sq meters.
We did this after research on other planning conditions in other councils.
However, we are aware that the State Government can override Council planning instruments and public opinion on matters involving large scale development.
For example the Mosman High School development was deemed State Significant and therefore the approval bypassed Mosman Council planners.
Now that the LEC has approved a supermarket in the village and the Mosman High School is about to commence a major redevelopment, we think it is time to hold a public meeting on planning in Q1 2022.
Staff would be asked to prepare a report for Councillors and the public exploring options on how to limit the size of a similar or even larger supermarket in the Village.
Simon Menzies
Council needs tougher control plans to stop the likes of Woolworths walking all over us.
We should rewrite our development control plans to stop further invasion from other over sized retailers and to prevent expansion of Woolworths into neighbouring properties.
The current plan allows shops up to 500 square metres (same as Woolworths).
This needs to be changed to 250 square meters and stronger controls should be put in place to ensure developments have adequate parking to meet the demand that the business generates.
The inclusion of basement parking of all knock down rebuilds needs to be made mandatory.
Anyone that has dealt with Mosman Council’s planning department will tell you what a nightmare it is to get anything approved without jumping through all sorts of hoops and paying out a fortune for inspections and bonds along the way!……..Yet here we are with a Multinational property developer gaining a recommendation for approval (with conditions!) for a DA that is clearly not in the public interest and certainly not in resident favour. The MLPP listened to the community and unanimously
rejected the proposal but the question remains, why was it initially approved with so much opposition and failure to meet council’s own (and RMS) requirements for parking, and all of the other points that were not addressed suitably by Woolworths when lodging the DA, I’m surprised and baffled!!
If the conciliation hearing on April 12th is to be on-site let’s all attend to show the Lawyers from both sides that ‘People Power’ is strong in our suburb and should not be underestimated.
I would like to encourage residents of Mosman to maintain the fight against this Woolworths Development Project. We need to keep our eyes and ears open to make sure that the BIG WOOLWORTHS does NOT use its might and wealth to overcome the wish of the Mosman Council and the majority of Mosman residents.
I recently spoke to Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and she was adamant that the Council continued to object to this unnecessary and unwanted development in the High Street.
The action in the Land and Environment Court will take some time but we need to be ready to show our support for the Mosman Council and take action against this project.
I am sure that there will be opportunities for us to express the opinions and wishes of Mosman residents. Just watch for the call to action. 2020 was a bad year but the thought of the Woolworths Project being approved would make 2021 even worse.
Three cheers for Mosman Village Community! Well done and good on you! You deserve a massive thank you. I am very grateful for all your efforts.
I oppose the Woolworths development for several reasons but the principal one is TRAFFIC. Delivery trucks? Fire Department ability to exit? Already traffic on Military Rd is a disaster most of the day. But what angers me most right now is that the “public meeting” at noon on 18 Nov. did not give us a link to attend remotely, and we were not allowed to attend physically. I was told at the Council that the linkwas “on the website.” It was not, and I searched everywhere. The woman at the door would not give me the link. This is a total whitewash.
Hi Elizabeth, we’re sorry to hear you had trouble finding the link to the MLPP meeting details on Council’s website. In our latest MVC update we provided a link on our home page to the MLPP meeting details in order to assist our members. Please be assured several respected and professional representatives of the community attended the meeting to oppose the development, with traffic, parking and the public interest all being addressed. We will keep you posted by email and website updates. Best wishes from Mosman Village Community.
Definitely NO to Woolworths. Another supermarket in Mosman which is more than adequately provided by IGA in Mosman and Spit Junction. Plus ALDI in Spit Junction. These are not only more than adequate but in fact favourable to a large clinical supermarket. We have a wonderful selection of small specialised shops and these may come under threat from a conglomerate.
My view is we have a number of similar stores in the village plus a WOW store is only a few K’s away in Neutral Bay. Therefore lets block this development.
Please forgive me, there is something I don’t understand.
I assume Council’s Director Environment and Planning is familiar with Council’s policies, thinking, etc..
Approximately one year ago Council announced a Climate Emergency. The motion was proposed by Clr. Sherlock and supported by a majority of Councillors, including the Mayor. There was a certain amount of fanfare, and since then Council has announced various measures to assist reduce Mosman’s “carbon footprint”, held workshops on the Climate Emergency/carbon footprint/environmental etc theme, and invited and supported climate activists such as Zali Steggall and Minister Matt Kean.
That such action will reduce world temperatures contributing to climate change by one billionth of one degree, if we’re lucky, is immaterial. Mosman Council’s Climate Emergency is all about the morality/ethics etc of being seen to support efforts by thousands of other communities, and generally create a public awareness of the effects of climate change and the environment.
Well and good so far, if that what floats your boat, it’s all fine.
But now Mosman Council, through it’s Director Environment and Planning, wants to approve a major commercial development, that will entail a large amount of structural building work. The latter will need tens of tons of concrete and cement. Concrete and cement need massive amounts of energy to produce, read a huge carbon footprint.
Further, the whole development will absorb very many tons of other building materials, which create to say nothing of final fitouts and finishing details. All of the latter create extra pollution and emissions to manufacture. Bottom line, this major commercial development will create and have a huge carbon footprint.
Further still, the extra traffic created both during the building phase, then forever afterwards adds even more emissions, carbon from exhausts, and general environmental degradation.
And a policy and concept Mosman Council heavily promotes is a Climate Emergency. The latter revolves 100% around attempts to reduce emissions.
There is a massive contradiction here. Mosman Council, and it’s Director Environment and Planning
Hang on. I beg clarification. Does that classification include responsibility for the “Environment” ?
I repeat. Mosman Council and it’s Director Environment and Planning have questions to answer.
I could be forgiven for thinking that perhaps this issue could interest the ICAC. And I’m not joking.
Peter
I think you are mistaken – I recently spoke to Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and she was adamant that the Mosman Council was opposed to the Woolworths Proposal from all aspects.
I am a Woolworths shareholder and I am appalled that they are hell bent on invading Mosman.
Once again, It’s all down to the Mighty Dollar. Woolies will come in and stuff up the village regardless of what the community wants, and I don’t believe for a second that the “independent reports ” provided are independent.
We are well serviced by independent grocers and food shops which are already struggling. Bridgepoint has Harris Farm (which is a lot fresher than the Fresh Food People) Aldi and IGA.
Blind Freddie couldn’t miss the bun fight of traffic congestion that already exists along the whole shopping strip which has become progressively worse over the last 27 years that I have been living here.
So while Mosman Council prevaricates and sits on its collective hands, why not have some Meter Maids, a McDonalds and a Harvey Norman thrown in for good measure?
I am opposed to the proposed plan to build a Woolworths in the middle of Mosman.
We have plenty of shopping resources and do not need a new supermarket.
The local council is there because we voted for them!
Why do they feel they can ride over the wishes of people who put them into power.
No, no! Military road is a nightmare already. Don’t make it worst!
Apparently Council is now endorsing this project as the site does not need remediation. Bit of a back flip and flying in the face of overwhelming community opposition.
Louise
I don’t know where you got the idea that the Mosman Council had thought of endorsing the Woolworths Project.
I recently spoke to Mayor Carolyn Corrigan and she was adamant that the Mosman Council would oppose this project in every aspect,
Putting emotion aside, and having some experience in retail property, I am of the view that there are many retailers in Mosman who have been doing it tough for some time. Restaurants also struggle. The notion that Mosman is a thriving retail village seems an over-reach to me. I note Nick Hildyard’s comments in relation the various retail facades fronting Military Road being unimpressive and concur with that view. Further retail goods along Military Road are on the expensive side. There are various reasons for all these things, including expensive rents. But the key reason always gets down to one thing in retail locations – retail strips always do better if a recognised retail anchor is centrally situated amongst specialty shops. If one is available and prepared to situate itself in Mosman then I believe it deserves fair consideration.
If that is not to be a full-line national supermarket operator, then I believe that a smaller Woolworths Metro is the perfect compromise – and compromise is what is needed here. A store like a Woolworths Metro will generate more foot-traffic in the strip, will assist regaining shopping dollars which currently leak to the two Woolworths at Neutral Bay and generally strengthen the retailers which trade along the strip. This is the normal experience of retail trading when developments such as this occur. The retailers in the region will welcome the extra foot traffic and the locals will benefit from these retailers doing better, usually by seeing cheaper retail pricing. But also increased trade will see retailers and owners being able to spend more on their stores, properties and facades which will benefit and improve the look of the village.
The new Metro in Kirribilli does not appear to have diminished the village feel in that location. Many locals say it has in fact improved it. Certainly they seem grateful for the increased convenience and cheaper pricing it offers locally, negating the need for them to drive to Neutral Bay.
Another benefit to consider is that not everyone in Mosman is affluent and quite a number work varying hours. This group of people will benefit from the cheaper pricing of Woolworths in the area, and the flexibility in being able to shop in Mosman at different hours than usual. This group deserve fair consideration when decisions around something like a Woolworths Metro are being made.
In relation to vehicular traffic Metros appear to attract more local foot traffic than vehicular traffic. These Metro’s are built in high street locations all around Australia and, not being full line supermarkets, don’t seem to impact local traffic situations to an unreasonable degree. Personally, I have confidence that Mosman Council has enough experience in parking and traffic management to be able to deal competently with any traffic challenge presented, and will act in the best interests of the local Mosman community in that regard.
To finish, I believe that both the local retailers and the local community need a retailer like Woolworths Metro in the main street, and am fully supportive of the proposal.
Chris, I fully agree with you and one could not have said it better! There was a poll recently in one of Mosman’s Facebook groups and there were over 500 votes FOR and 400 against…..
At last. A bit of logic, fact and common sense! not to mention the waste of rate payers’ money fighting an inevitable losing action in the Land and Environment Court. Didn’t the Dan Murphy’s case demonstrate all this? Wake up!
I totally agree with Peter M Wargent’s post of 18 October 2020. Traffic is the main issue. The other issues, most of which are well grounded, are sideshows in comparison. I have not seem much discussion about the heavy traffic congestion on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays plus school holidays mainly due to tourists from outside visiting the Zoo, Middle Head and Balmoral. Then there is the afternoon school pick-up which corresponds with day tourists and workers from the aforenamed establishments all leaving together in the afternoon. Gouldsbury Road is a problem at afternoon school pick up time near the proposed entrance to the Woolworths car park and delivery bay with huge buses trying to traverse the narrow winding way through to Myagagh Road around to Mosman Public. Let alone having more shoppers and delivery trucks on it. With all this congestion and cars stopped or crawling for long periods there must be much pollution in the air – particularly in Military Road. One wonders why people sit at outdoor cafes already with all the pollution in the air there. Then one wonders what the position will be when Woolworths at Neutral Bay closes in a few years. Surely this would promote even more traffic to add to the congestion.
18th October 2020.
Whilst many of the objections to Woolworths’ proposals are very valid, personally I would be concentrating on the traffic problem.
Over the last many years traffic in and particularly through Mosman has continually increased
(eg. witness ever increasing visitor parking in streets around Balmoral). It would be interesting to
actually measure exhaust emissions (especially carbon monoxide) in the strip from Spit Junction to the Buena, at different times, say between 6am and 6pm; and particularly on weekends when there is a steady stream (read nose to tail, and frequently stopped) going to and from Balmoral, Clifton Gardens/Chowder Bay Park, Taronga Park Zoo, and Headland Park etc.. And compare results with acceptable levels (of emissions etc) for public safety.
Perhaps said emissions would be well below acceptable levels, but if they are anywhere near, given that they are only going to increase (even without Woolworths, but the latter will certainly exacerbate increases) any Council or State Government should be concerned. The potential for future legal action under Health and Safety laws appears on the horizon.
It is also of note that NSW state government is spending $s billions on building and/or enlarging freeways etc. to “improve traffic flow”. Yet under NSW planning laws entities such as Woolworths can
contemplate developments that will increase traffic volume (already too large), in situations where it is impossible to increase the size/width of roads to accommodate any extra traffic.
(As an aside and to a degree, above arguments are also applicable to NSW Government mandated increases in dwelling numbers in all local areas).
Or perhaps Mosman residents should get used to wearing gas masks/breathing apparatus on any sojourn into Mosman village ? (Tax deductible of course).
Further to all of above: unless any reports on Woolworths’ proposed development can be easily verified as wholly and properly independent they are not worth the paper they are written on.
There is already an oversupply of traffic on Military Road between Spit Junction and Raglan Street, particularly in mid-afternoon, and Mosman residents are more than adequately provided with essential food outlets at Spit Junction. Let Mosman Junction retain its village-like atmosphere without the unnecessary intrusion of Woolworths.
John & Ros
The new Woolworths will actually reduce traffic in Mosman. People who live on the eastern side of Mosman can walk to this store rather than drive the 3+ kilometres to the supermarkets in Cremorne/Neutral Bay.
This small Metro format is quite common in other areas of Sydney. It caters for walk-in, convenience shoppers and the stores have an attractive, community feeling. It might actually breathe some life back into Military Road, which looks like a sad dump these days.
Mosman residents are embarrassing. Get some perspective and lose the first world problems. Everyone opposing this development will be shopping there once they realise how convenient it is.
The people that can walk to this proposed store can walk to Bridgepoint shopping centre which has Aldi, IGA and a massive Harris Farm along with many other retailers and is the shopping hub for Mosman. There are also other independent retailers along Military Road that will close if this development is allowed to proceed, adding to the “sad dump” that has been created by Woolworths through secretly buying property and removing long standing businesses. This “small Metro format” works in other areas that are high pedestrian traffic areas in CBD’s, close to railway stations and major public transport hubs, Mosman is none of these!
Woolworths are property developers and this ‘Foot in the door’ proposal will be further developed in the future as other stores are forced to close. Woolworths will lose a Cremorne store (owned by Coles) in 2024 then see what happens to the traffic in Mosman!!
It is with great interest that I read the ‘expert views’ about the wonderful Mosman Shopping Village. I wonder if anyone can list half a dozen traditional stores which have been in the same hands for the last 10 years. I too admire Pennys and Accoutrement while the wonderful Arenas was a recent casualty and the Pages & Pages site has been taken over with great integrity. But where is the list of the fabulous village array of community shops? It simply doesn’t exist in 2020.
Meanwhile the fascias and facades of the shops on Military Rd are a complete dogs breakfast–a shambles of style and design which the Council has seen fit to oversee. None of this makes Woolworths a ‘must-have’ for all residents of Mosman but at least let’s have a debate based on facts and not whimsical dreams of a bygone era.
I do support the Metro shop and firmly believe that it will be an asset to the shopping strip and not the rapacious cannibal that so many residents seem to believe.
Well said!
The Council objections to the Woolworths application are modest and relatively easily resolved by a well-credentialed expert. On the other hand, the preposterous notion that Mosman Council meticulously maintains the streetscape of the “Village” is complete drivel. Just take a look at the fascia of Chemists Warehouse, one of the recent retailers which, I suppose, has complied to the “heritage” look of the village! The Council should focus on improving the retail landscape of the suburb, all the more so in the current retail downturn. Sadly, a streetscape filled with random small clothes shops is unlikely to be sustainable in the post-Covid world particularly with the insatatiable greed of the local landlords. Let’s try to develop Mosman into a well-balanced and sustainable retail community, introduce some strict guidelines to give consistency and style to shopfronts instead of simply stifling progress. Welcome to Woolworths and the quality and value which you will undoubtedly bring to our community.
Totally agree re your comments on the Chemist Warehouse shop front
Surely Council could dictate the appearance that it demands
Yes Chemist Warehouse is an ugly blot on the streetscape. No attempt to blend in whatsoever.
I was about to write regarding the Chemist Warehouse storefront when Nick addressed it in his comments. A precedent has been set here – one that Woolies will exploit I’m sure. The new unnecessary Chemist Warehouse has started a trend of signage that totally destroys the look of the area. And I’m also fearful that Woolies will exploit the temporary shutdowns, I.e. The Mosman Club, to further its buying power in vulnerable areas.
Along with the other comments regarding traffic congestion, having friends who live on Gouldsbury Street I know the already existing problem between The Crescent turn-off and the school at drop off and pick up times.
As long as Chemists Warehouse persists with its horrendous frontage I won’t be stepping inside its doors – I suggest others do the same. People power often brings results!
Hello,
Completely agree with you in welcoming Woolies in Mosman to inject new life in the shopping strip , that is suffering from covid atm.
I’m afraid that too many shops (especially fashion apparently) wont be able to survive this crisis.
So we shouldn’t miss the opportunity to bring new retailers and cafés ….. after, everyone is free to shop there or not.
20 car spaces will create more problems than it solves. We don’t need another supermarket we already have IGA x 3, Woolworths x 2, Aldi and Coles all within easy driving or walking distance.
Not exactly easy (!) walking distance for the 2 woolies (2.5km) or coles (3km) , especially if you’re little older.
We strongly oppose the Woolworths development in Mosman – no matter what size. As others have expressed the concerns focus on the transport interface with what is already a congested area. In particular, the use of Gouldsbury Street with large trucks in a small street and the turning of those trucks in and out of Military Road. We have enough traffic on this busy road and do not need more. Also we agree with the comments regarding the impact on local business and the community feeling within Mosman. We are very well serviced for all the products Woolworths supply and have an excellent choice of vendors.
I am 100% opposed to Woolworths in Mosman, along with a car park to go with it. We have three IGA stores (Cremorne, Mosman & BridgePoint), local green grocers and Harris Farm.
If people who live in Mosman want to go to Woolies, there are two in Neutral Bay to choose from and there’s Coles also.
We do not need more traffic in Mosman and we do not need Woolworths.
Well said Elkie!
I agree Elkie.
I am totally opposed to having a Woolworths store in Mosman.
We have a perfectly adequate IGA in Mosman and a improved and larger one at Bridgepoint. That is quite enough! Having this Woolworths store will severely take business from these other store. We also have a a new and improved Harris Farm. We do not need Woolworths!
This ‘reduced’ proposal is just the thin edge of the wedge. Who thinks they will only be using the downstairs area?
Woolworths (no longer the friendly “Woolies” the past) must vacate the Grosvenor Street site in Neutral Bay in 2024 (Google Adele Ferguson’s stories on the purchase of that site by Coles).
That is why they want to come to Mosman. Their lack of business acumen.
To those who oppose the proposal I suggest boycotting Woolworths in any shape or form. Dollars speak!
I agree about the boycott. Mosman doesn’t need a major grocery retailer, no matter how small they say their shop will be. I will shop at Coles or IGA until this issue is sorted!
And without being rude, where is Zali Steggle in all this? She came in on a greens platform – where is she now? Advocating for local residents or getting into bed with the bid developers?
P.S.
They may build it, but will we come?
We do not need more supermarkets… Woolworths’ plans remain a money grab. Since when do the big players consider individuals’ needs when money is to be made?
To say that there will not be increased traffic congestion is nonsense. 8 metre delivery trucks and an unspecified number of smaller delivery vehicles plus people parking behind the building, plus extra residents must add to congestion.
I am against the Woolworths’ project.
There are two Woolworths within 3k plus 3 IGA’s within walking distance plus a lot of great local food shops, butchers, delis etc.
We don’t need it in a practical sense and it doesn’t fit with the vibe of the area and it is in the wrong place. All major chains are centrally located at bridge point with plenty of parking.
Say No!!!
I agree. Also, if, as they claim, there won’t be any more traffic, why do they want to bother with it all?
To do some business, that’s all…
Nothing wrong with that.
Creating jobs by replying to a need for the customers who will visit the shop (you dont have to go there if you don’t want)
I love the title: from little things, big things grow.
Woollies is not needed in Mosman and, further, would be another massive hurdle to the already struggling long-standing small businesses around the suburb – how’s Oxford Street in Paddington going????
Also, Woolies say there would only be two deliveries per day – you are kidding me.
Lastly, have you heard of the Trojan Horse? Once they’re in, who knows what the future brings….
C’mon people
I am happy to see Woolworths open a store in Mosman.
For all those opposed – don’t shop there.
But it’s ok for Mosman residents to visit supermarkets in other suburbs adding to traffic congestion, noise and pollution?
Exactly!!
I hope you will publish my comment as every opinion should be heard.
I want here to express my support for the Woolies development.
I wish you all could understand that not everybody in our beautiful Mosman live in a $2 million house and is comfortable
– paying $12/15 a sausage or $50kilo steaks from the 2 butcheries.
– paying $5 a baguette or loaf bread ($2.5or3 @ Woolies)
– getting fruits & veg at 2to3 times the cost of Coles or W.
– paying double prices for milk, or any staples from the small IGA.
– buying overpriced seafoods from hygiene questionable fish shop.
I understand that these local shops will loose little bit of their revenues, but don’t worry too much, they will still be highly profitable.
They have enjoyed your generosity for years, and will still welcome your loyalty.
Woolies will just bring another option to all of us.
And importantly it would be good to be able to get this option after 5pm for people that work long hours.
Thanks for considering my point of view.
Have a great weekend and festive season 🙂
If you want to shop after 5pm (or after 6pm) go to the IGA
True…… if i want to pay double prices for basic staples !!
If you want to shop cheaply don’t forget that Aldi is also in Mosman and open until 8pm. Do you mean The Blue Dolphin fish shop. It has been a terrific place for years and even made the best hamburgers when my kids were young and wouldn’t eat fish. I believe they have been pushed out too but am unsure – very sad if that is the case. Perry
Did you really just slander the fish shop!?!
You don’t have to shop in the boutique retailers, there’s Aldi and Iga at bridgepoint who constantly compete with each other. Plus Harris farm and another fish shop. In addition we are pleased with generously placed bus stops from the headlands to spit junction. We don’t need woolies muscling in.
Hello,
No i didn’t slander ,
I just gave my view on the evident outdated hygiene practices of this fish shop ….. from my 30years experience in the food industries.
And Yes, you’re right : i dont have to shop in the overpriced boutique retailers.
And many Mosman residents would love to have a cheaper, better, woolies option (where you , aswell , will have the choice to not shop in….)
Options and freedom for all of us 🙂
Regards
I oppose the new Woolworths smaller proposal for a big variety of reason.
We do not need another food retailer OR another coffee shop.
I attended the information session on the 4th. I get the feeling that the previous larger proposal was put forward to provoke such outrage that this smaller proposal would seem acceptable.
I’m still not happy with the thought of Woolies in Mosman – we don’t need it.
The artist’s impressions of this new proposal showed discreet Woolies’ logos, but you can be certain they would be much bigger if this went ahead.
One of my main concerns is the proposed opening hours: 6am-11pm! If you include say an hour each side for staff setting-up and clearing up that’s 5am-midnight. That equates to more people and cars in Mosman for the majority of the day/night. This isn’t Newtown and I don’t want Mosman to become like that.
So, I still say no to Woolies.
The size of the proposed Woolworths development is irrelevant. Any development of that nature will take custom away from our already struggling, small local businesses. Traffic in Mosman particularly in that area bordered by Belmont Road and Gouldsbury Street is already congested.
A Woolie’s Road Train trying to manoeuvre would create a nightmare situation. We do not need or want any Woolworths in Mosman Village.
A further note to my comments. Regarding the token “federation” archway proposed at the front of the development. This is what they are desperately fighting against in London; the creeping facadism, where by developers attempt to placate the protestors, when the integrity of a building is being destroyed. It is already happening here and we do not want it in Mosman. We must preserve the integrity of our buildings.
No Woolworths for Mosman.
Unnecessary and unwanted.
I attended the ”information’ session this evening. It was slick with no real answers. I was especially angered by the ‘we will add to the heritage feel of the area’ This was putting a few arches at the front and having a big bland brick wall at the back. When I pointed this out I was told it didn’t matter about the back…but I disagree. Why should we have to look at that? We live here. The famous architect, Piano, explained that there is a huge responsibility with buildings. If someone writes a rubbish book then you can choose not to read it. If someone designs and builds a bad building it effects people who have to live, work and/or see them.
We don’t need nor should we have Woolworths in any form big or small. It is just a foot in the door as far as I can see. The cost of restoring a few arches at the front is a drop in the ocean for them and too high a price to pay for us….letting them into our village in return for a restored facade. Many agree our street fronts need to be restored, but we don’t have to do a deal with Woolworths for that. Many of the ugly bits are in buildings rented or owned by banks. They could be asked to restore the facades and the small businesses could be given a grant.
One fellow claimed letting Woolworths in would level out prices, re-energise local business and lift property values. I don’t think we need property prices to rise further in Mosman but when I expressed this view this man told me I could go and live somewhere else. He also said that people shouldn’t have to drive to Neutral Bay to shop at Woolworths. I suggested that Spit Junction provided sufficient choice of grocery items so that it would not be necessary to drive to Woolworths. He claimed that perhaps you couldn’t get what you needed/wanted at Spit Junction……really? Perhaps this man was a plant.
The hidden risk is tearing at the fabric of community connections. Mental health is a huge problem in the West. The UK now has a Minister for Loneliness. We have something special here that all humans need. You can sit in a cafe and wave at people passing by or chat to someone next to you…people you see all the time. To big companies like Woolworths we are objects. There is no relationship between you and the store owner like we have. Yes you might pay a little more but with it you get that ongoing conversation and personal attention that is lacking elsewhere. Imagine ducking into Woollies Metro Mosman and paying at the automatic machines.
So still a big NO from me no matter how they try to dress it up. Let’s band together and stop that toe crossing the threshold…keep the chain on the door!
I oppose the revised proposal from Woolworths, for the following reasons:
– Mosman Village is very adequately served by existing food retailers
– the proposed store would add to the already very congested traffic in & around the village part of Military Road, Mosman
– one of the most appealing aspects of this part of Mosman is the small-scale nature of the existing shopping layout, which gives the area a real village feeling. A development of the type proposed by Woolworths would significantly damage this quality
– the proposed Metro store would have a significant damaging effect on the business of the existing small retailers
We simply do not need a Woolworths in Mosman Village!!
Justin Doyle
The houses in Erskineville are commonly single-fronted without off street parking. Residents with a car, hope to park in front of their house and are unlikely to give up their parking spot for a quick trip to the shops.
I think it is unreasonable to extrapolate Mosman residents behaviour based on Erskineville.
I still vote NO to Woolworths for all the reasons already highlighted by other community members here. No, no and no!
I strongly oppose to any Woolworths coming to Mosman. We cannot have anymore traffic in the village. It’s bad enough now.
‘Save the village‘
I have been going to Woolworths Neutral Bay for over 20 years now ‘But’ will ban Woolworths completely if they continue to swallow up smaller local businesses.
‘Go away and leave Mosman Village alone’ x
There are already two IGAs and an Aldi in Mosman-Spit Junction. Two Woolies and a Coles are in Neutral Bay, which barely has a shopping centre for groceries anymore. Another supermarket is not needed in Mosman. Sadly supermarkets make other small businesses unsustainable, and local centres lose their variety and character.
So the question to be considered is whether their first proposal of
“3,500 square metre full-line supermarket with hundreds of underground car spaces, 15 retail outlets and dozens of apartments above, requiring the demolition of existing buildings and a massive excavation”
was just an ambit claim to soften the community up for the current proposal and make us feel relieved. So that we think the current one is not so bad after all? It’s all part of the negotiation strategy. This was their real game plan after all?
The clear, major problem that a Woolworths with only 23 car spaces will bring is of course, massive traffic overload on the best and most loved section of Military Rd. There is no getting around that, even with the (temporary?) scaled down version of the proposal.
It is already a greatly congested area, a battle to get in and out of Avenue Rd, Raglan St and in fact anywhere between the Buena and the Fire Station. Other major retailers are differently placed, at Bridgepoint they are served by a huge 2 level car park. Even the smaller of the 2 IGA stores on the strip has the Mosman East car park directly behind.
So there is NO COMPARISON and any Woolworths at the Pasta Zu site will create enormous pressure.
Woolworths say they will cater for walk in, basket bearing customers. Sorry, that was the way it was in 1950, now nobody goes shopping without a car, EXCEPT of course the residents of the 60 new apartments to be included at the site. Woolworths conveniently forget that each apartment will have at least 1.5 cars. Where do they go when they drive out of the residential car park??
I and my whole family will fight this selfish, deceitful development to the last.
It must be stopped and people power is the only way to stop it!!
I am not quite sure why the Mosman community is so anti Woolworths. Remember when big-bad Aldi was going to decimate the business in Bridgepoint? Or Dan Murphys cause horrendous congestion and death to the smaller bottle shops? The fact is that Mosman landlords are like landlords the world over they just keep increasing rents until the small, community retailer can bear it no longer. Some wonderful family retailers have disappeared from the Mosman landscape in just the last two years e.g. Arenas, Pages & Pages, Penny’s & Ewens and others replace them. Perhaps the Mosman angst should be turned against the landlords who are simply trying to extort ever-increasing rents and welcome a progressive retailer like Woolworths which will bring variety & value.
Mosman does not need Woolworths. It will destroy the village atmosphere. You go into the fruit shops and are greeted personally and cordially. The same for the butchers, the newsagent and IGA who provide a great small, “old style” grocery store service where there are not shelf upon shelf of the same product – e.g. Tomato Sauce.
Every store provides personal contact, not perfunctory “have a nice day” or “how are you?”.
Each store owner genuinely is interested in you !!!! their valued customer.
Woolworths would add no value to Mosman. They would alter the atmosphere forever!!!!!!!
Although the smaller is definitely a preferred option, we do not need another supermarket in Mosman. And we certainly do not need any more traffic or delivery trucks endeavouring to access the area. There has to be major impact on the traffic and accessing the carpark and loading dock from a street that is full of school children (with two schools adjacent) is absurd. This proposal should not be approved.
NO Woolworths needed in an already heavily congested area like Mosman. So many great points made already by other comments! The proposal shows utter disregard for the existing ‘village’ vibe and surrounding established shops. A Metro store will not even offer better pricing, as that format tends to sell products at higher price points (higher rent, more smaller deliveries need to be absorbed and reflected in the pricing). Proposing to include an utter generic W cafe is a ridiculous idea, as there some fantastic existing cafes in mosman (again, who plans these proposal and have they been to the area?!).
The retail landscape is rapidly changing due to ecommerce and its impacting shops everywhere (incl. Mosman), but a Woolworths won’t do anything to increase profits in the area and for surrounding shops. Simply a bad idea…
I am absolutely dead against the revised proposal from Woolworths. The first question is whether we need this store? We don’t. The second question is whether we can trust Woolworths? Well, they underpaid their staff by $300 million. Please Woolworths, just go away.
WHY!!!! They are money hungry, Coles owns the building of one of their stores at Neutral Bay and will no doubt kick them out at some stage for another store for themselves. Mosman DOES NOT NEED another supermarket, there is IGA in the village along with the smaller butchers and green grocers, IGA, ALDI and Harris Farm at Spit Junction. Even if they say they will keep the village atmosphere, they won’t. You will have the trucks deliveries coming thru, there are enough trucks now that have to go along Military Rd. They did this at Kirribilli and it has killed the small business and spoilt the village atmosphere there so DO NOT let them into Mosman.
A ‘BIG’ No to Woolworths in Mosman. I don’t shop at Woolworths anywhere. I shop and support my local shop owners and want it stay that way.
Already I have 3 IGA stores, Aldi and a hugh Harris Farm, all within 5 minutes walk from my home in Mosman.
Traffic congestion already exists at Gouldsbury Street and Military Road. For Woolworths to say this proposed development won’t effect already existing traffic congestion is ridiculous.
Stay out of Mosman, Woolworths.
We don’t need another supermarket (whatever size) and we certainly don’t need the extra traffic hassles. It’s a no from me.
This proposal will destroy the local business community – if Woolworths has downsized its project to a Metro style shop – this will be taking sales/customers from local business owners who have been in the area for many years. It is the greed of large companies trying to seize an opportunity at the cost of locals.
We will lose the village and community atmosphere of Mosman and many businesses will shut down.
The proposal should NOT go ahead in any form.
Traffic will be more congested than it already is.
Locals can buy all their groceries etc from local, family owned businesses already.
The biggest issues for Mosman are the traffic and the lack of parking. 22 additional spaces is not sufficient and the additional traffic in terms of both cars and larger delivery vehicles will create havoc. We do not need a Woolworths in Mosman.
I do not want under “any circumstances” a Woolworths in Mosman.
As many have already stated we do not need another supermarket in our village.
We only have one chance when it is gone it is gone forever.
If we are careful we could be one of the villages that preserves its heritage.
Mosman council insists we adhere to our heritage in lodging residential applications so to should we be mindful of keeping our village in a way that resembles its heritage, not only in building visor but in keeping our small retail owners and insuring our pride in our community.
I am definitely opposed to Woolworths’ proposed development in Mosman and and do not feel that it is necessary to reiterate the well argued objections of others.
We don’t need it and I certainly won’t be patronising it. As an employee of a retail store in that vicinity (not directly effected by proposed plans), I see first hand the parking and traffic issues that part of Mosman already has. To add this into the mix is just insanity. Go away please … once and for all!
We have enough grocery outlets in the area as it is – please say NO !!!
It’s a NO from me.
Community spirit is not just buildings, it’s the local shop owner who knows your name and you theirs. They will NOT survive. Goodbye Mosman village
Communities become richer in both a cultural and financial sense when we recognise the value of the members of those communities. A local business doesn’t just bring diversity to a local area by being different, they tend to be a part of the fabric of community, what they earn is fed back into that community and the wider local area as they spend themselves. Its a false economy to say that a giant such as Woolworths are cheaper, you can always cherrypick (pun intended) certain items they might do cheaper . What is the real cost beyond some fruit to a local community when a business is set up only to profit shareholders, there is no ripple effect in such a case that occurs when a local business is earning and spending that back into the communities and the country as a whole. Supermarkets do a great job of pretending to be about community with their vouchers for schools and such like, but lets be honest, they have one bottom line and its not care of people. We are too owned by big corporations already, we need to get firm and say no by shopping local for the good of our communities and here’s the real deal, for the good of ourselves too. Theres enough money to go around but more and more it is lining the pockets of the few.
I helped with the letterbox drop to oppose the original Woolworths plan. From the feedback received on the day, I doubt whether a smaller outlet would change many residents’ opinion of the need for yet another grocery outlet in Mosman. “Size” is not the answer. “Enough already” is.
Vote NO! Thank you
I have read many of the comments and I wholeheartedly agree with any comments that oppose the Woolworths development and I want to state without any reservation how much I do not want a Woolworths in any shape or form in Mosman. I do not believe Woolworths will stick to the Metro size store, I feel once they have a foot in the door they will develop this site further.
I and obviously many others feel we are adequately provided with the existing specialty shops.
Woolworths enter a community, kill off all small businesses then charge whatever they want. Mosman really cannot let Woolworths have this monopoly.
We have a truly unique community and I don’t think Woolworths will add anything positive.
So I say NO to Woolworths, no matter what they propose!
I do not support any development by Woolworths in Mosman. We already have a good selection of smaller businesses supplying all our grocery and food needs.
Woolworths has a reputation of destroying smaller businesses operating in the same space, eg Macro, Thomas Dux, Mario’s Fruit & Vegetables in Neutral bay. It brings traffic and noise into a neighbourhood and undercuts other smaller businesses with price discounts easily sustainable by Woolworths’ other bugger supermarkets.
Me and my family say ‘NO TO WOOLWORTHS’!
I am OPPOSED to Woolworths in any shape or form in Mosman and whole heartedly agree with all the above comments.
This just more corporate greed.
To rehash many other comments……
…we have plenty of variety and competition with Harris Farm, IGA and Aldi at Bridgepoint.,another IGA at Cremorne and Mosman (for convenience shopping) and Coles and Woolies at Neutral Bay. I guess Coles will take over the Grovenor St site once the Woolies lease expires, and provide on par shopping experience.
…Traffic is appalling along Military Rd into Mosman Junction , which is a one way in and out road. Locals already use many back street runs to avoid Military Rd as it is clogged most hours of the day…..wait until summer hits with beach and zoo congestion! The intersection at Belmont and Military Rd at the junction intersection is very busy at most times of day.
…Having more trucks and cars around existing school zones is dangerous and ludicrous……we have 2 schools, 3 preschools, the RSL and a bowling club all within the vicinity. It is an accident waiting to happen and parking will only become more of a problem.
…..let’s support many of the local and independent businesses that provide character to our community………where you are personally greated by name , and given great service and product knowledge.
Woolies will not go away easily……so as a community we have to say NO louder!
Firstly Mosman does not need the extra traffic and chaos this development will result in, but more importantly let us support the smaller shop owners that make up part of Mosman’s character and history.
There is no need for Woolies to be on the high street. This is just silly business.
We already have a number of empty shops in the Mosman Village – bringing in one of the oligopolists will aggravate this situation and should be avoided at all costs.
The last thing we need is Woolworths – already proven as an irresponsible corporate, already way to big. The ACCC should be working to break up these oversized players.
Let’s not feed the Woolworths hand that bites so many. Life is not just about price.
I am still opposed to this development. The same reasons apply:
1. We don’t need another supermarket in Mosman when we have wonderful small businesses in the area that service Mosman residents every need.
2. If Woolworth’s believes this new development is to encourage walk up customers and that it wont have an impact on the traffic in the area then remove the 22 car spaces that will encourage customers to drive to the store and park! Belmont road already can’t handle the amount of traffic there now; The lights only letting 1 or 2 cars through at a time onto Military Road. With another 22 cars thrown into the mix will prove to be an absolute nightmare.
3. if people want to shop at Woolworths then I imagine they are already driving the 5 minutes away to the other two stores nearby anyway.
4. Whenever I do shop at the smaller Woolworths in neutral Bay I find they never have the brand of items I’m looking for. At least I know both IGA’s and Harris Farm do.
Woolworths instead of spending millions on this development that the majority of residents don’t want, how about donating the money to charity.
I agree one hundred percent, all valid reasons, we definitely don’t need a Woolworths in the area. If the majority of people don’t want one that should be the answer
I agree with the smaller Metro store rather than the big one that they originally proposed and which could still go ahead knowing an organisation like this and then we have a monstrosity.
There is a Metro in Paddington and it’s quite a small presentable size.
Thank you Mosman Village Community for a very good website and the strong Mosman group-control with this big organisation.
So yes, let them have a small Metro and keep the village neat according to plan we see.
Why we need another grocery store in the high street is beyond me – especially when the proposed store is to be open from 6am to 11am, when IGA just down the road has opening hours from 8:00am to 8:00pm. The recent Dan Murphy’s store closes at 7:00pm. We have absolutely zero need for a store like this and the opening hours are absurd. Increased traffic off Belmont street to the parking area at an already busy junction with Military road. It will be almost impossible to turn left at that junction with traffic exiting the car park.
How does a smaller Woolworths plan to police that shoppers walk rather than drive to the store, and use a basket rather than a trolley? How ridiculous and insulting that they should think that we’d accept this new proposal! As others have said, we do not need another supermarket in the area.
We in Mosman are adequately catered for by supermarkets and specialty food outlets. We do not need a Woolworths store or the extra traffic congestion such a development would bring.
JOY ANNAND – Resident of Mosman since 1960
I am totally opposed to Woolworths’ development – even on a smaller scale.
We do not need Woolworths in Mosman! Traffic is already a nightmare.
Stop this plan NOW – we have a good shopping Centre at Bridgepoint, and a smaller IGA
near Raglan Street – that is ENOUGH.
We don’t need Woolworths in Mosman in any shape or form. What will happen the the occupants of the 5 shops currently in the space Woolworths plan to develop?
Can’t Woolworths get the message?
Metro shops belong in areas where a lot of people work.
I remain totally opposed to a Woolworths of any size in Mosman.
1. There are two Woolworths within easy reach;
2. The impact on already congested roads would be intolerable;
3. The presence of a Woolworths of any size would have a detrimental effect on the character of Mosman.
No, no, no! I repeat, I am totally opposed to a Woolworths or any other supermarket of this kind in Mosman.
Susie Lockhart
Regardless of the size, there will still be increased traffic from delivery trucks and customers driving to the supermarket. There will still be the risk of driving out smaller retailers and losing the unique village atmosphere that Mosman currently enjoys. And, call me cynical, but I think we can all agree that this is likely to be the thin end of the wedge. Once a small “metro”/walk-up supermarket is in place it won’t be such a big step to expand into a full-size supermarket. We said no before because we meant no. The answer is still “no”.
I am very concerned about the economic impact on small businesses in the area and their livelihood. If you look at what has happened in strip sites and villages like Paddington it says it all.
Reducing the size and making it appear more asthetic is one thing.
I still have the same questions
1/ Is this small format a plan to increase size over time?
2/ What are their plans to manage traffic congestion?
3/ Do we need yet another supermarket when we already have so much choice? (2 in Neutral Bay alone)
#support small business
#community feel and vibe
Like most of the responders, I’m absolutely opposed to a Woolworths in Mosman. We already have a car park called Military Road on the weekends, with severe congestion at many other times, and more traffic at yet another supermarket can only exacerbate that. To suggest a 22-car parking facility will neutralise any adverse effects on traffic is ludicrous and an insult to the intelligence.
We need to support our local small businesses to preserve our village, not buckle to economic bullying from Woolworths, which is a group that already has form in that area over a long history of destroying competitors. Aside from anything else, Woolworths already has a store in Mosman – it’s called Dan Murphys.
My husband, family and I agree totally with all that has been said in opposition to Woolworth’s planned destruction/disruption of our beautiful village. Period!
I am a previous director of property at Woolworths, have been a Mosman resident for almost 50 years and oppose the Woolworths Metro development in the strongest possible terms.
As is well known to locals, Military Rd at the Belmont and Gouldsbury intersections already functions extremely poorly at numerous times every day. Woolworths will be acutely aware of this problem and is adopting a strategy of seeking to convey to residents that the proposed store is designed to service a walk-up catchment which Mosman is not, by virtue of its steep topography and, in part, aged population. Rozelle and Erskineville have very different population densities and demographics.
Woolworths has neglected to advise the residents that it loses its Grosvenor St Neutral Bay store in 2024 at lease expiry and has been planning to capture some of these lost sales in Mosman, as evidenced by its previous proposal for this site. In addition, it is actually building a potentially 1000 square meter store, with the proposed upper level described as storage and team office space. This could be converted in future to a 2-level store of larger trading area.
Should this development be approved, it will generate incremental traffic movements in Gouldsbury St which will exacerbate Military Rd problems and force additional traffic into the school/town square precinct.
Let’s all ensure it doesn’t occur.
These are really good points. You should post on the other thread too so more people read it? It’s important people know that Woolworths is losing its Neutral Bay Grosvenor St site and so it’s no surprise that they have plans to expand in Mosman. Coles’ purchase of that site was written up in a SMH article in 2014 but that was a while ago!
This new proposal is certainly smaller but can we really trust this change of heart from Woolworths? They presumably invested a large amount of $ on the properties they have already bought and would have been expecting to make large returns.
I also believe that the 2 Neutral Bay Woolworths are under threat. Coles owns the Grosvenor St site and is unlikely to renew Woolworth’s lease when it is up for renewal in 2024. I have been told there is some weird condition in the lease/DA agreement for their Rangers Rd site which may mean they could lose this too.
Grosvenor St Woolworths is one of Woolworths top performing supermarkets in Australia. So they will no doubt want to replace this store, and could look to expand in Mosman if they already have a ‘small’ store here. They own quite a few properties in that strip so it would only be a matter of time before we will be fighting another DA for a larger store in the future!
Like everyone else, I believe we should protect Mosman’s unique village atmosphere and that we are serviced well by the existing supermarkets here.
We do not need a Woolworths in Mosman – we already have sufficient supermarkets and a Woolworths would destroy our unique village environment.
Woolworths cannot be trusted anyway – who would trust a company that underpaid its staff $300 million over a ten year period? What king of management is that ?
If Mosman residents wish to retain our village environment, then we must not a allow a Woolworths store to take root here. One of the attractive things about our Village is that we do NOT have a Woolworths here. It makes us different from other suburbs. And we don’t need one anyway.
Can Woolworths be trusted anyway? Remember they underpaid their staff over a 10 year period by around $300 million. Just how bad is their management?
Love the local shopping as it is. Bringing delivery 🚚 trucks and additional traffic to this area will destroy the current traffic and community situation..
Mosman stands as one of the last beautiful villages where small businesses, given the right support from landholders and the community can flourish.
Hope for no change or a very small Store. 🤷🏼♀️
One only has to look at what happened in Kiama with Woolworths moving into a small coastal town with a wonderful community. (I’m a regular visitor). There are now NO small grocers or vege shops there, with local butchers also under threat – just the soulless shopping centre housing Woolworths, which the locals have no choice but to patronise. I DON’T want a similar situation in Mosman. We are well served already. There is a narrow road through the shopping strip which, as every notes, is nearly always congested and you can’t just recreate a village environment by putting in (yet another) café. Go make your money elsewhere, Woolworths. I for one WON”T be shopping there if, heaven forbid, it gets up.
I don’t trust them one bit. Even if they somehow get approval for the down scaled ‘ Metro ‘ shop I’m sure they will come back in a few years and make up some excuse to upgrade to a full store.
Despite the new plan, a Woolworths will have a significant and deleterious effect on the street. I have seen firsthand (Gundagai) how a smaller Woolies has destroyed all other competition in town. The impact will likely be the same in the area here. Not sure why people in Mosman require a Woolies, with IGA, Bridgepoint etc nearby. I note with some concern that there will be two trucks per day (and likely additional), in addition to drivers who stop and shop. What family, or mums with small kids are going to walk in and walk home with all the packages! The traffic at school time and peak hours is already shocking. Still opposed to the plan. Here is hoping council listens!
We are well served by existing markets: IGA, Harris Farm and Aldi as well as smaller retailers in fish and fruit and veg
We do not need more competition for these people and we do not need Woolworths
I hope the council will reject the plans and the consequent disruption if they were to proceed
I’m with John, while Woolworths have made an attempt to compromise and placate Mosman Community anger we are well served by good quality markets now and the additional traffic around Gouldsbury street would be horrendous.
Their drop in session should give them a pretty good idea of our response.
It’s not up to the council, John, it fits with NSW govt plans and that’s all it needs to do. Council has no say, unfortunately.
I do not believe we need another supermarket. Full stop. All of our shopping is successfully done in Mosman. I have no need to go to Woolworths or Coles. I simply don’t see the value it adds to Mosman and can only see the issues that others have already raised. Personally, I also don’t trust any large corporation who have been part of the $1 milk decade wich has decimated the dairy farmers. Yes they have now increased their pricing by 10c to support the farmers, but it’s a little too late and was only done after huge public pressure. If they have done that to farmers, there’s no doubt they’ll have the same lack of respect for our local Mosman business and community too.
It would be ludicrous to have a supermarket on the site envisaged by Woolworths in Mosman. Their traffic consultants have obviously not observed the congestion in morning peak periods, school drop-off and pick-up times, weekends and school holidays (hundreds of people going to the zoo, Balmoral and Middle Head). Military Road is a car park so much of the time at these times.
To bring additional cars and trucks in on purpose is a bad idea.
If one assumes that the plan is for the additional traffic and trucks to enter the site from Gouldsbury Street then it is madness to encourage more vehicles and trucks (even small ones) into the already narrow street.
To expect the residents to believe the myth that most people would walk to the store is ridiculous. There is very little high rise within easy walking distance.
Spit Junction has much high rise around it. The Officeworks building there is for sale. Why doesn’t Woolworths purchase that for their mini supermarket. There is already severe noise from the early hours and congestion on and off all day from the renovated Bridgepoint Shopping Centre with its key tenants IGA, Harris Farm and Aldi – all of whom I support. Their specialty trucks come in and out all day seven days a week – I respect their right to do not believe that this should also occur in Gouldsbury Street.
Surely it is better to put all the businesses causing congestion into the one area of the suburb and Woolworths would have the added benefits of joining IGA and Aldi head to head.
This makes the utmost sense to me!
The disruption during construction and after would be horrendous. Entering Military Road from Belmont and Gouldsbury Streets is bad enough now. We do not need Woolworths ruining the village atmosphere and putting smaller shops out of business. As Military Rd is on the ridge line, just how many of us really want to walk up the hill pulling a trolley and then having to cart it back down when it is full?
We don’t need it.
We don’t want it.
History, eg Kirribilli, shows that It will destroy many of our long-standing local shops and the livelihoods of their owners and the people they employ.
Unacceptable that these people should be put in jeopardy for something we don’t need.
Peter and Ann Townsend.
I agree totally with all that has been said in opposition to Woolworth’s planned destruction/disruption of our village.
I will oppose this development in every possible way.
My family never shops at Woolworths and never will.
We will continue to support our small retailers, whatever it costs, because that is part of what makes Mosman a beautiful place to live.
There is no place for large, faceless corporations here.
The new Woolworths proposal may appear an improved proposal however I am concerned it would act as a Trojan Horse, with plans being able to be modified after the proposal.
It still does not tackle the resulting traffic it would cause-and the bottleneck that already frequently occurs at the Military Rd-Belmont intersection.
For Woolworths to suggest they want to target principally walking clients feels disingenuous -where are these clients who would walk? I observe that customers of IGA and other grocery and food stores in Military Rd tend to drive.
The impact of traffic for the local residents-especially those living behind the proposed development -and the school-a huge cause for concern.
Mosman is already well served with the choices we have at Bridgepoint and in the HightStreet.
We do not need this Woolworths in the heart of our village!
Thank you
Unlike almost everyone on this website I actually support this development. I think having a Woolworths in Mosman would be fantastic. Obviously the development needs to be architecturally sympathetic to the “village” feel of Mosman and should also improve the community infrastructure and services available in Mosman. This is my honest opinion as Mosman resident.
I would agree with Alex, with one variation that they stock higher end unique quality products in many ways like a “Whole Foods” store which is such a great concept. Normally when I think of woolworths I think of poor food choices, we need to up the game.
So you don’t really want a woolies then….
But why? Everyone who opposes woolies has stated their reasons. What are your reasons for it being ‘fantastic’?
Hi Guys,
Maybe I have a solution. The club could form a public co and issue shares to the community to the value of the building. The share holders can then stop any sale to Woolworths if the majority of the shareholders block the sale.
The club will benefit from the sale of the shares and still remain in business.
Any thoughts?
damn good idea !
We definitely do not need another large supermarket in Mosman. We already have an IGA, ALDI and Harris Farm, then another IGA a few minutes drive in Cremorne and a couple more minutes drive to Neutral Bay provides us with 2 Woolworths and a Coles!! Surely this is way more than enough!! I say a HUGE “NO” to the proposed Woolworths in Mosman!!
Excellent succinct summary. We certainly are well serviced with two Woolworths less than 10 minutes drive from the centre of Mosman.
I would like to understand why the Financial Review journalist is so biased, and why he is so passionate? Does he live in Mosman? Is he being influenced by Woolworths? or is this all about personal headlines?
Do you know that there is an 1870 building in the area [that] WW wants that was the original stable for the Lennon Estate?
The building should be protected by an heritage listing.
Have made a submission to Council on this and await a response.
I am completely against Woolworths coming into Mosman in any way. I live in Neutral Bay and now only have the option at shopping at either Woolworths or Coles. So much for competition when that is the only choice I have. I don’t shop at either but go to Mosman. At the moment Mosman has a unique character and a friendly community spirit. I am prepared to pay more for quality goods and friendly intimate service. If Woolworths build they will create the same bland empty cold environment that they have created everywhere else in their malls. Some call it modern, I call it sterile. If this goes ahead it would be an incredible lack of foresight by the Council in terms of excess traffic, large trucks passing by an infants and primary school and a high school. Where are these trucks going to come from, along Belmont road and then into Gouldsbury Street. Someone above said ‘let’s have some honesty in this discussion’. Where had the honesty been on Woolworths part re their involvement as the largest poker machine owner in Australia.
I agree with all who are speaking out against the proposed Mosman Woolworths.
1. We must not allow to be destroyed the unique and friendly ‘piazza’ ambience of the Mosman strip shop area.
2. We already have more than sufficient supermarket outlets, whether we choose to walk or drive.
3. Traffic congestion and pedestrian danger, already at a critically high level, will increase.
4. To solve the future traffic congestion thus engendered it may be that short-term street parking would be banned, thus further reducing the amenity of the area.
5. More delivery trucks in our suburban streets? With their noise? We don’t want or need them.
6. Is the current proposal the thin edge of the wedge? Once there is a foothold, there is the great risk of expansion by stealth.
We do not believe that the Mosman area requires an additional supermarket. We are currently more than adequately serviced by the existing outlets, and, if we need a greater selection, Neutral Bay Woolworths is not exactly a long journey. In addition to the increased traffic congestion the proposed development would adversely impact the village atmosphere of the area.
Accordingly we register our strong objection to the proposed development by Woolworths .
As long time residents of Mosman we are strongly opposed to the proposed development.
Don’t even understand how it was allowed to get this far!
People live and come to Mosman because of the village community, the beauty of our suburb and what our small businesses have to offer. A large Woolworths development would destroy all of that.
The thought of all the extra congestion, pollution and noise, increased danger on the roads for our children and the elderly are further reasons why we strongly oppose the development.
Unfortunately it doesn’t need council approval if it fits within the NSW govt plans for the area which it does.
We fought so hard to prevent the State Government’s proposal to amalgamate (one direction or another) local councils – this proposal from Woolworths is like a slap in the face to the Mosman’s community – we do not want an ugly huge monopoly destroying the village atmosphere and completely destroying local businesses. Go back to your other opportunities to create huge conglomerates – like Shellharbour – they can have huge trucks destroying their local areas. Mosman is already very well served with locally focused businesses.
I would welcome a local Woolworths Supermarket as a vital amenity rather than having to go to Neutral Bay to do my shopping. I am sure a new supermarket would not make any difference to Aldi and little to IGA. None of the local supermarkets provide the range of goods available at Woolworths. Other shops in the area die after a short time as people go out of the area for their grocery shopping. Woolworths could be required to provide much needed additional parking so that people can not only shop there but have time to visit other shops in the area. A local Woolworths would serve local people. There would not be an influx from other areas. We need to provide amenities for the increase in population.
We support and agree that Mosman village does NOT need another supermarket.
This will destroy the village feel of Mosman not to mention adding to the already congested traffic problem we have.
We strongly oppose to this project!
Personally, I strongly dislike the idea of opening a Woolworths in Mosman considering there are multiple smaller grocery stores around the area still giving us the opportunity to do our everyday shopping. Having a Woolworths in such a small area will just cause chaos and worsen the traffic on Military road even more, which many people I think would agree, sounds like a nightmare.
Please keep Mosman as it is with the culture that it currently has rather than commercializing it.
Our family is totally opposed to Woolworths setting up another massive, ugly supermarket in Mosman. We already have plenty of choice for food shopping in the area. We do not like the idea of the Mosman Village shopping strip changing from individual shops to one major chain nor do we want it. It will change the lovely village ambience we all enjoy at present. Please everyone, spread the word to encourage more people to oppose this dreadful idea.
Please do not destroy Mosman, this beautiful local neighbourhood does not need another supermarket. There are smaller sufficient ones within walking distance.
The damage to the culture of Mosman with traffic and large trucks delivering stock would be terrible and it would block streets. Smaller shops will be threatened, village atmosphere destroyed…
We as a family are strongly against this project. Please keep our village as it is.
We do not need an over developed project like this in Mosman nor any high rise apartments on top of an oversized Woolworths. Mosman is known for is small boutiques shops and divine little cafes. Supporting small business is extremely important for the community.
We already have two Woolworths, 5 mins drive away and do not need another one. Keep Mosman as it is. Not only would the traffic be horrific, the trucks would ruin the streets and livelihood of our amazing community.
I VOTE NO TO THIS NEW WOOLWORTHS DEVELOPMENT!!!!!
This is an ugly development, not in accord with the character of the Mosman Village. The traffic congestion the development will create would be such that it would be almost impossible to drive between Spit Junction and Mosman Junction in less than 30 minutes. And the contamination emitted by the traffic will be unbearable. It should be killed and challenged at every possible stage!
I support small business, strip retail, shopping for truly fresh food in small quantities and minimising car travel. I do not support large scale supermarkets that create an unfriendly blank streetscape, encourage use of cars and compete with local retail outlets selling real food.
We in Mosman are adequately served by supermarkets and specialty outlets, I do not believe we need another Woolworths in this area or more traffic congestion it will bring.
Why do we need another supermarket in our area? Already we have enough food outlets.
We have Harris Farm market, Fourth Village market, two IGAs as well as Aldi. We also have two Woolworths at Neutral Bay. Also, Woolworths and its economy of scale will drive many of our local shops to the wall.
The appearance of a large Woolworths supermarket on Military road between Belmont Road and Gouldsbury Street would change the appearance of the Mosman Shopping Centre. It would be the largest retail outlet in Mosman and quite at odds with the village’s current architecture. The mayhem
of its construction would make traffic unbearable let alone parking. Also where are the large food delivery trucks going to park?
If Woolworths purchase the RSL what provision will be made for its members?
So many unanswered questions.
I am therefore completely opposed to the suggestion.
I am very much against Woolworths in Mosman.
I value the RSL and value the village atmosphere which would be destroyed.
Further, we do not need the congestion which would be associated with such an enterprise.
I oppose the proposed Woolworths store on the grounds that such a development would only add to the traffic chaos in that part of Mosman Village and in no way fits in with the rest of that shopping precinct. Develop Spit Junction which has better facility to deal with traffic and leave Mosman free of large development. Woolworths AND Mosman High and Primary Schools… my mind boggles!!!
We don’t shop at either of Woolworths Neutral Bay stores. We don’t shop at Coles either.
We’re happy to continue shopping at Harris Farm, IGA, Aldi and local stores.
Why give an artist’s impression which may not be anything like the real thing. I believe sound questioning of the proposal is justified but not using totally distorted impressions on your publicity material. The streetscape is nothing like that shown and the delivery vehicle well oversized.
Let’s have a bit of honesty from both sides of this argument.
Well pointed out Alan Jackman re: distorted images in publicity material. It looks like propaganda when images are so exaggerated.
I am opposed to commercial over development and high density residential in predominantly low density suburbia. Just look at what has happened to Dee Why and how hard it is to drive from one side of Pittwater Rd to the other.
Let Woolworths submit/resubmit a proposal to the whole community to evaluate and let there be a fair and equatable mediation process with the WHOLE community, not just a handful of opinionated individuals. Furthermore, let sanity prevail
I agree Mosman does not need another supermarket. Nor does Mosman need another large block of units with 60 apartments. Also there is a primary school near to the area where Woolworths would like to develop. Extra traffic including large delivery trucks pose a threat to the children.
So many great comments here. Myself and all my family are totally opposed to a Woolworths in Mosman. So wrong on every level. May sanity prevail here above Ww profiteering.
We are totally opposed to the proposed Woolworths store. The last thing Mosman needs is another supermarket. We are already very well served. The traffic chaos that will be created in an already overcrowded Military Road both during the construction period and after completion will be horrendous.
The reasons why we chose Mosman as our new home more than 20 years ago was for its natural beauty and village atmosphere. Those with children probably chose it for its variety of good schools, parks and playgrounds.
We are well served by a variety of small traders and medium size supermarkets which fit neatly into the fabric of our village and who have managed to fulfill our commercial needs more than adequately. What Woolworths hopes to build is a far cry from small scale and does not try to blend in with the Mosman we love, making a big statement in line with their own aspirations and corporate image, out of scale to the rest of the neighborhood. Are you willing to pay the price? Stand by idly as old Mosman shopfronts get demolished, possibly even losing Mosman Club and facilities? Not to mention the negatives resulting from living with a large building site in the middle of Mosman, with all its resulting traffic congestion, dust, dirt and unbearable noise for a few years to come?
This will not only affect all neighbouring property owners and pedestrians, but nearby schools and the Memorial Park Playground as well. I cannot even imagine how children would be able to concentrate on their school work under these circumstances, not to mention the Safety issues around children coming and going in this area, on a collision course with builders’ trucks and other traffic obstacles.
Elderly people are just as much at risk, who already find it a problem to negotiate the heavy traffic on Military Road. Is this the price you are willing to pay? Wouldn’t you want to preserve the heritage buildings in the area, to keep the atmosphere of Mosman in tact and look after its residents and shop owners who have provided a much welcome service to the community for so many years?
By raising your voice now, you will hopefully help to retain the high property values and a Mosman that future generations can be proud of.
Sorry for this long letter, have written an even longer one to Mosman Council and to your own website. Just feel very strongly that we shouldn’t lose sight of what is really important in our daily lives.
And another supermarket and heavier traffic on Military Road isn’t one of the things we need.
Thank you for listening.
Ursula
I am writing to register my vehement opposition to any proposed opening of a Woolworths’ store in Mosman.
Mosman, Spit Junction, Neutral Bay and Cremorne are over catered with supermarket/grocery options.
Please help to limit the tide of bland branding in this prized suburb. Mosman is in danger of becoming a sterile strip dominated by high-end boutiques and now possibly a supermarket behemoth which will cause deleterious effects on smaller stores.
I have lived in Mosman for 55 years and accept the nature of retail has changed, but it is vital to retain the Mosman Club. Of all institutions, a ‘club’ embodies the sense of community.
The decline of Mosman ‘village’ began when the Regal Milk Bar, Joe the fruiterer, Vespers Chemist, Horsnell’s shoe shop and other landmarks ceased trading. The closure of Pages and Pages, Arenas and the exit of Karl the shoe man in more recent times only reinforces the altered landscape.
The opening of a Woolworths store will do nothing to foster a feeling of community in Mosman. It will only further erode opportunities for genuine interaction of people, increase congestion and force undue stress on neighbourhood shops.
Thank you for considering my objection.
I live in Mosman for its unique leafy quiet village appeal. It has a sense of community and a feeling of casual relaxed and calm happiness.
In a world of continued emphasis on the environment and decreasing pollution, plastics, planting trees, maintaining cultural heritage, this is a backward and hypocritical development.
Mosman has a unique character which should be cultivated not destroyed, similar suburbs like Wahroonga would never let something like this destroy their community.
Surely Mosman doesn’t want to become another noisy, crowded, polluted and heavy trafficked suburb?
We thoroughly agree that Mosman does not need another supermarket.
Traffic is too heavy already, smaller shops will be threatened, village atmosphere destroyed.
There are already two Woolworths shop ten minutes away.
We are opposed to Woolworths in Mosman, we support independent shop keepers and the village.
The Woolworths proposal is just NOT RIGHT- it would be unsightly, unnecessary, aesthetically unappealing, inappropriate etc.
There are already 2 Woolworths in Cremorne/Neutral Bay, one in Crows Nest and the Northbridge one. There is a very large Coles in Balgowlah, ALDI and IGA at Bridgepoint and another IGA in Military Rd not far from this proposed site.
How many supermarket behemoths do we need, bringing ugly buildings and more cars on what are narrow and already congested streets.
I am strongly opposed to a Woolworths store in Mosman. It is not needed nor is it wanted by the majority of residents.
We need to support our local retailers and help retain the village atmosphere.
There is already traffic chaos in Mosman – we don’t need more.
Our Mosman Village is precious, the strip shopping is an enjoyable place to meet.
This will disappear.
No Woolworths in Mosman!!!
There’s no appreciate or necessary to have another supermarket just along the busy traffic road. We have had enough.
I have lived on Belmont Rd for 46 years, traffic on our road has increased naturally in this time and parking is difficult. If Woolworths comes to the site mentioned traffic would be overwhelming and parking impossible. Will council remove the 3.5 tonne limit on Belmont Rd to allow Woolworths huge trucks to access the area? The residents fought hard to limit large trucks. There is a high school, primary school, two kindergartens, a bowling club and two churches on Belmont Rd. How will their access be affected by allowing this greedy mega company into Mosman village?
We oppose that development, it’s totally unnecessary and will destroy village atmosphere that we all love!
I am old enough to remember the first supermarket in Neutral Bay. About 1950 I guess. I am one or the lucky ones who first moved to Mosman in 1964 and I am still here.
l like to be able to interact with workers in shops like Harris Farm, who are often long term workers. Similarly IGA, with its many long term employees, has a smidgin of the feel of the building up of a personal relationship with workers.
I believe that the Bridgepoint complex is quite adequate and the downsides of another mega shopping complex at the junction will be the end of the IGA there. Pages and Pages is gone already and other small businesses would probably not survive. Traffic through Mosman Junction is difficult now and would be exacerbated by a huge Woolworths complex.
I am absolutely opposed to this development. We have plenty of local businesses that serve our needs well. I quit shopping at Woolies (and Coles) years ago and have no intention of going back just because one is near. The traffic alone is enough of a reason, but the impact on smaller local businesses could be devastating.
Woolworths in Mosman is totally unnecessary and against everything remaining of Mosman Village.
We have plenty of individual food shops, florists and everything else Woolworths sell.
It’s not exactly a hike to Neutral Bay for TWO Woolworths and a Coles and our little IGA is perfect
for most of us.
Why would you spoil our area with huge trucks daily delivering under par produce.
Let’s hope it never happens.
i consider there is no rational case for another supermarket in mosman. the area is well supplied at present, traffic would be much worse, present small businesses will suffer or close, the mosman club will be threatened, there is no evidence that woolworths prices would be lower, demolition and building will wreck the area for years, and it does not fit in with council policies promised by the recent council elections.
In my opinion Mosman does NOT need another supermarket, there are two good sized supermarkets in Bridgpoint and one smaller IGA in Military Road. We also have a large IGA supermarket in Cremorne and two very large Woolworths in Neutral Bay just eight (8) minutes drive from Mosman. The damage to the culture of Mosman with traffic and large trucks delivering stock would be horrific and it would block streets. Apart from that it will destroy a block of unique buildings that currently exist.
I am strongly against this project, there is no valid business case for another supermarket in Mosman. Keep our village as it is.
Mosman is a village. We have enough traffic going to Balmoral and the Zoo. We have two IGA stores and ALDI Bridgepoint is being upgraded and the small business owners are being pushed out. Let’s hope the Arena shops will not be Chemist Warehouse as rumoured!! We have Chatswood, North Sydney and Warringah Mall close by. We can’t deal with any more traffic. So… NO TO WOOLWORTHS and will not shop there until they withdraw their plans to invade Mosman.
My family and I are absolutely opposed to the Woolworths development in Mosman.
Surely with 7 supermarkets already in close driving distance v all the downside (Harris Farm upgrading currently, Cremorne IGA and Neutral Bay with Coles and 2 Woolworths), there is simply not a viable positive cost:benefit if cost includes more traffic on Military Rd that is often almost at a standstill anyway and so many other negatives. Aside from the ugliness and other detrimental affects on our village atmosphere and Mosman social capital.
Yes good idea to join Mosman Club – surely the social cohesion and community support objectives of a community Club are not being met. At least warrants some open discussion with the community.
Eg Club’s Constitution: Objects 6(b)
“To encourage and foster in every possible manner loyalty, good comradeship and cooperative support for the benefit of its members and the advancement of the ideals of the Returned Servicemen’s organisation.”
Eg last Financial Report on website
“Strategic objectives
The Club’s strategic objectives are:
Leadership and Culture – we are leading and delivering within our community … with our vision to be the happiest community destination for everyone.
Community – we are recognised as an outstanding contributor and are integral to our community.
(And the Returned Servicemen’s website outlines much more on this.)
Great objectives which are surely not aligned to the proposed development.
Mosman is a wonderful community that I believe warrants protection from this kind of commercial-only development with such negative social benefit.
As a long term local resident I oppose the development.
Enough. Stop. Please.
In the words of Joni Mitchell “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone”.
We know what we’ve got.
We like it.
It’s a village atmosphere that many have worked hard to create.
Will items cost a little more than at Woolworths? Probably yes, but I think it’s a small price to pay to preserve what we like.
Thank you to those already rallying people. We can’t be the silent majority on this issue. Like most on this page the thought of a Woolworths supermarket is an abhorrence because of the effect it will have on our village life let alone the traffic nightmare.
I’ve registered my interest to mail-drop but we all know influencers in this suburb and we need to encourage them to influence at government and corporate level also.
Regards Donna
We have lived in Mosman for 32 years and have already seen so much change. The small businesses being taken over. We need to support our locals and not have the big companies changing our suburb.
Mosman has a beautiful village feel and we need it to stay that way. Military Rd ‘cannot’ take anymore traffic. So pleaseeee STOP WOOLWORTHS.
As a resident of Cremorne who enjoys the village feel of Mosman with it’s (diminishing) range of independent retail shops, I would like to add my name to the objectors. My wife shops there several times a week and I cycle in for my needs because the traffic is already unbearable at peak times.
There is a heavy price to pay for the convenience of one stop shopping; once the independents have been killed off, we will not have any other choice but the supermarkets and then they can charge what they like.
As a resident of Mosman, I am opposed to the proposed development by Woolworths.
Mosman doesn’t need another Woolworths in the area, there are two in Neutral Bay.
Woolworths will put smaller, family owned retailers out of business. It will be much harder for innovative or individual retailers, which Mosman residents & others people like, to start up or succeed.
The interaction between locals & retailers will be lost. The sense of community along Military will be destroyed.
Taronga Zoo & Balmoral Beach attract people from all over Sydney. Hence, Military Road is extremely busy. Adding 60 apartments, in the Woolworths development, would turn Military Road, into a parking lot. This development won’t just effect Mosman residents.
Locals / ratepayers want to maintain the village atmosphere. An outsider like Woolworths should not be able to dictate, what will happen in our suburb.
It is a David & Goliath battle but people power can win !
Kate Ward
I and my family have been living in Mosman for more than 20 years, not once have I or any member of my family wished there was a Coles or Woolworths supermarket in the neighbourhood!
These chains add nothing but blandness wherever they open and suck the life out of the local retail communities and businesses surrounding them.
Mosman does not want and above all does not need this development.
Can’t add many more sentiments to those already well expressed above in opposition to Woolworths opening in Mosman, but want to speak out strongly against the proposal for every conceivable reason. Military Road is already choked with traffic – how could anyone even THINK that it would cope with this development? And residents in Gouldsbury St and others nearby? The negative impact of developments like this can clearly be seen at Neutral Bay, Crows Nest, Northbridge etc, but none of these centres ever had the village atmosphere of Mosman in the first place – without being presumptuous, Mosman is so much nicer a shopping centre, with so much to lose. I can’t believe this is even on the table!
I am completely opposed to Woolworths coming in to destroy our unique village life.
I never shop at Woolworths. So easy for me not to ever go near them!
I have no need, as I support small independent retailers. It’s a joy for me to shop locally, whether it be for fresh anything, fish, meat, deli, hardware, medications, PO, Optomotrist, dentist, doctor, lawyer, vet, etc…
I am saddened by losing my fav book store, my pasta store and the clothes shops which will go eventually.
Woolworths will destroy our village …
Rosemary Quinn
Oh Rosemary, I totally agree..I don’t shop at woolworths either..I made a commitment to shop locally, support local food shops and small business.
As you have highlighted the recent to be closure of our bookstore, the closing of our deli and fruit shop..let’s hope the mosman club survives temptation to go with ww..
Regards,
Rowena
I would like to lend my support to stopping this proposed development by Woolworths which will destroy our village life, for what a few $ more profit for Woolworths.
They will get no $ from me as my wife and I and family have already stopped shopping at Woolworths.
The way that they used the Club name to purchase the properties says everything about Woolworths to me.
I have avoided Woolworths, where possible, for years, decades even, to actively support local and smaller businesses. I abhor the thought of this juggernaut in any small community, let alone Mosman village. A necessary evil perhaps, but in Mosman? No. KEEP OUT.
I have lived with my friend for many years in MOSMAN, my friend is now 107 years of age & has always believed in small business adventures and their success. I am sure, as I believe, she would be appalled at the attempt of Woolworths to build this complex in the heart of MOSMAN, totally unsuitable & would cause even more traffic congestion, they have x 2 shops in Neutral Bay, surely this is a attemp to destroy all the small business in Mosman, let us hope that common sense will prevail & permit will not be granted ms & gd
We can not let Woolworths destroy our village atmosphere. I am absolutely and totally against this ridiculous plan.
I am a long time resident of Mosman and a disgusted Woolworths shareholder who appreciates the village atmosphere of Mosman. Woolworths’ greed, intrusiveness and lack of transparency in considering building a store in an area already well supplied by independent greengrocers, delis and IGA is only matched by the disinterest politicians such as Felicity Wilson, show.
Over the last 25 years traffic congestion and parking has greatly increased. What impact do you think a Woolworths will have? I shudder to think.
I will sell all my Woolies shares and NEVER shop in any Woolworths store if this proceeds. Support your local businesses and community and tell big business to sod off.
Oh suck it up, you Mosman sooks.
Wake up.
Mosman RSL is only interested in money, was happy to open The Fernery causing dreadful disturbance to neighbours, just look at the For Sale and To Let signs in Military Road opposite. Of course the RSL will leap at the opportunity to have a brand new club with basement parking built on top of a sparkling new Woolooworths.
Look at Crows Nest Woolworths. Compare with the IGA in Mosman. Which would you, as a local resident, really chose to shop in. C’mon, really.
I would never suggest any individual Mosman councillor would benefit financially from this deal.
Nor an elected member of parliament with a very uncertain knowledge of geography and personal history.
Mosman stopped being a village a very long time ago, much when Sydney stopped being a city in which it was a joy in which to live.
Grow up and enjoy the benefits a duopolistic retailer will bring.
Like the rest of Australia.
Chris
You clearly don’t mind that your apples are two years old, farmers are squeezed by this and other large chain stores, traffic congestion around schools, lack of a community, individuality of shops and a village feeling. Mosman will end up having multiple $2 shops, little charm. I would suggest you go live on Parramatta Rd.
Any large supermarket that comes in, is probably only an small version anyway , and possibly not have trolleys etc, probably just a walk up store and no parking , we definitely need competition, paying 3 and 4 dollars more for items at the local places is ridiculous, if it saves driving a car to be able to get these items, then I say build it and tie it in with the facade of the local area. So it looks the part. And all the whinges will end up using the store anyway no matter who it would be.
Don’t worry David, you won’t be able to drive a car anyway. It won’t get you anywhere, especially in summer when the roads are gridlocked with beach goers trying to get down to Balmoral. I’d rather pay a dollar more (and this doesn’t always apply either – I often find things are cheaper at IGA) to be able to drive out of the suburb in under half and hour. And as for tying a mega Woolworths in with the “facade of the local area”…?!!!
I am glad the local MP gave a disinterested reaction. But I think you mean uninterested.
en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/disinterested
What a ridiculous waste of food, resources etc by creating another shop to sell the same stuff that is already available nearby. We are already supplying, producing and stocking extreme volumes of unwanted and unnecessary products that are creating landfill problems for our country and the world. And what a mis-use of the land. A move designed and intended to put other shops out of business. How could anyone contemplate encouraging more traffic in such an already overloaded road and thereby destroying the local amenities and atmosphere?
This is not appropriate or necessary. We are well serviced by IGA, Richards and Aldi. And more cars in Mosman.
Absolutely against this idea. You’ve already killed off pages and pages, clothes shops and pasta zu. Thanks in advance for all the damage you will leave in your tracks
I say NO to Woolworths in Mosman Village.
I am opposed to a new Woolworths store in Mosman Village. The village has a unique character which would be diminished by a huge chain store and the increased traffic would be unwelcome. I am also appalled by the underhanded way the property has been acquired on behalf of Woolworths, in an attempt to avoid community consultation.
I really want to keep the village feel and local shops in Mosman. It’s not difficult for people who want to shop at Woolies to travel to Neutral Bay. I think the CEO of Woolies lives in Redan street so I’m sure he is aware of the horrendous traffic on Military Road. All the extra trucks and people would make our suburb a nightmare! Please go somewhere else! Also everyone join the RSL as I’m sure they would have to put redevelopment of their site to a meeting of members.
I am in complete opposition to a Woolworths of any kind.
Mosman needs to maintain and keep the ‘high street – village’ feel that is crucial to the charm and integrity of this area.
We are well catered for in supermarkets in the area and Neutral Bay nearby for any Woolworths shoppers.
There is too much congestion, traffic and lack of parking already.
I am opposed to Woolworths coming to Mosman. The fact that Woolworths have not informed the community of their intentions is appalling but true to form. Woolworths do not care about the consumer (us), they are only interested in eradicating competition and will do this by undercutting our local retailers and driving them out of business. They will destroy our village environment and the choice of where to shop. What is Mosman Council doing about all this?
I totally oppose a Woolworths in Mosman. It is not required.
There are 2 large Woolworths in Neutral Bay. We have an Aldi superstore in Mosman for those who prefer bulk shopping.
Please let’s preserve the integrity of the village community in Mosman and support the local shopkeepers!
My family and I are totally opposed to Woolworths opening in Mosman.
No Woolworths for Mosman – support the independent retailers
I agree with all dot points in the anti Woolworths in Mosman Village argument.
This proposal has been done largely by stealth & lacks the correct transparency in dissemination of information by Mosman Council or by Woolworths.
Felicity Wilson was reported to be strongly backing this proposal at the previous State Election too. She was also for Council Amalgamations, further stifling the voice of the local Mosman Community. This won’t change without community pressure, but it IS up to the local population to raise a voice.
We have good provision of supply in Mosman & surrounds without a Mega Store, which will be years in construction, creating traffic chaos to local & thousands of visitors on weekends to Taronga Park, Balmoral Beach & the green harbour filter of Middle Head.
If you are a local, do you stay in? The congestion is severe.
Two major schools (Mosman High & Primary) will be most directly affected with noise pollution & distraction.
Bridepoint & Neutral Bay are easily accessed by families with vehicles & our local businesses will struggle.
I have also heard that Coles are to take over the Woolies at Neutral Bay & hence the move? Can anyone confirm this?
The unique charm & character of this village & its small business model is worth fighting for. It is highly functional & it should be preserved, enhanced & cherished.
Well said Jane.
Julie.
I remember seeing at lot of similar comments being made about Dan Murphy’s opening in Mosman. Mosman Council spent almost half a million dollars* of rate payer funds fighting against the proposal (despite the professional planning staff being in favour). Now years on, the traffic chaos, the demise of the village feel and failure of other businesses didn’t happen.
* Council’s legal costs for the DA case over 3 years 2013/14, 2014/15 and 2015/16 were $310,916.80. In addition defendants costs were $149,900.
That is horrendous!
Julie
Mark, you cannot compare Dan Murphy’s (to which I had no objection) relatively low profile to that of this supermarket proposal:
– more than 3,000sq metres
+ up to 60 overhead apartments of unknown sizes
+ 10-15 retail stores
+ multi-story underground car park
+ all the massive delivery/waste removal etc…. trucks
For me, the No. 1 Issue is Traffic and even more so now that I have just read for the first time that W has to close both it’s Neutral Bay stores in 2024 and therefore obviously hope those local shoppers would transfer their custom to Mosman.
Military Road and Belmont Road are already overloaded a lot of the time with school & sport traffic as it is, plus year-round day trippers and summer beach-goers regularly add to the chaos.
I think all most of us hope to do is try to keep some semblance of control on an issue that has devoured much of Sydney’s previously lovely precincts of which Chatswood, by way of example, believe it or not was one. Epping is also currently fighting for what remains of it’s community vibe, but their chance of succeeding is poor indeed.
Having travelled far and wide, I believe Mosman is one of the most beautiful places to live on earth. We are privileged to be here and we owe it to future generations not to ruin it.
I support Woolworths in Mosman. Please don’t abuse me for holding this view. I will keep reading all material so I stay informed but so far I support it.
Hi Dulcie,
I’m sure you view is respected by most, but it would be good to understand your reasons. Most of the opposition centers around the exacerbated traffic problems it will create as well as the detrimental impact it will have on our village atmosphere and local shops. Northbridge is a good example of what happens. And then there’s the extended construction phase, excavation, trucks enormous disruption to those living nearby.
Hello Dulcie,
I am interested in knowing why you support Woolworths Mosman?
Regards,
Julie.
We do not want Woolworths in Mosman. We will not shop at Woolworths in Mosman.
Certainly do not need another Woolworths as two already in neutral bay and Mosman loses its village atmosphere and becomes just another boring shopping centre
I’m appalled at the prospect of the proposed development in the heart of Mosman’s shopping village. A development like the one proposed will destroy the unique village atmosphere and amenity in the heart of Mosman. There will be many unintended consequences such as increased traffic in the area, including trucks and delivery vehicles and a significant loss of trade for local businesses. This development simply cannot proceed.
No no no no no..it just cant happen..i live here out of choice..the village atmosphere, supporting small business..everything one needs you can find in Mosman as it is..if one wants a woolworths there is 2 in neutral bay..we so do not need ugly large generic stores in mosman..please no..too too devastating on every level Rx
It is not needed and will only create confusion and destroy our village atmosphere. Imagine the parking problems!
With two large Woolworths stores just 5 minutes away, we are in no way lacking their ‘services’.
We and all the other ‘villagers’ who live in Mosman LOVE our environment and all the small, local retailers whose businesses and livelihoods that the Woolworths juggernaut wants to swallow up for itself. We don’t want our environment to lose its unique feel.
We neither need nor lack Butchers, Fish Mongers, a Supermarket, Deli, Chemists, Bakers, Cafes etc. and we’re all very happy with the ones we have.
Following Newport’s successful rejection of Woolworths, the company’s sneaky, stealthy “buy the property first” approach to Mosman is quite alarming, only really coming to light when it already felt like a fait accompli. Our village ain’t broke and it doesn’t need fixing. We can’t let Woolworths kill it.
Good comment Peter and one which reflects many in the local communities views.
We need a ground swell of support from the community if we are to prevent the development and ask that as many as possible are made aware of the group and this site, so please spread the word.
I am totally opposed to the establishment of a Woolworths Store in Mosman shopping precinct. Totally unnecessary, and will damage established businesses in what is a community friendly focused area.
I am absolutely opposed to Woolworths opening in Mosman. It is not needed and if there are those who can’t live without shopping at Woolworths, it’s not far to the splendours of Woolworths at Neutral Bay.
In Mosman it would create traffic chaos, put our small retailers out of business and ruin the streetscape – our amenities traded for their profits.
Thank you for organising opposition to this.
If this happens it would be truly awful. It would ruin the lovely village atmosphere that Mosman has managed to hold onto despite our massive urban growth. Don’t know what I can do, but I’m happy to donate to a fighting fund. Please keep me posted.
no way does mosman need a woolworths store. it would be disastrous for the local retailers and an extra pressure on the already heavy traffic load. we love mosman the way it is.
I love and am all for keeping our Mosman village atmosphere and dont want a Woolworths complex.
There are 2 Woolworths in Neutral Bay plus a Coles. There are 3 IGA’s – in Cremorne and 2 in Mosman. Plus we have an Aldi and a large Harris Farm – why on earth do they think it’s necessary to open yet another supermarket. I utilise the independent stores and live in Mosman because I like being in a village. Traffic is already backed up in Mosman – we do not need large delivery trucks duplicating what is already on offer in the area.
My husband and I are totally opposed to having a Woolworths in Mosman.
There is insufficient parking now for the local community and the traffic on the weekend is already bumper to bumper it currently takes half an hour to drive from Avenue Road to Awaba Street !!! try it.
We do not need another Woolworths as there are already two in Neutral Bay more easily accessible by bus than car, and quicker.
It will be unsightly and engulf the current attractive businesses, and atmosphere. It will increase the use of large lorries in the area and is totally unnecessary.
There needs to be more transparency by these multinationals, in regards to their intentions.
Keep at this. Don’t be put off by deliberately deceptive comments coming from Woolworths , nor by non-specific comments from some officials of Mosman Club. David
As residents and ratepayers of Mosman for over 50 years, we support the objections to the proposed redevelopment of the land fronting Military Rd, between Belmont Rd and Gouldsbury St as a Woolworths supermarket. Such a redevelopment is unnecessary, as there are already 3 supermarkets in Mosman, and would significantly worsen the already chaotic traffic conditions in and approaching Mosman Junction, adversely change the character of the Mosman shopping centre, have a deleterious effect on the general amenity of this neighbourhood and result in The closure of many of the local shop-keepers. We are happy for this objection to be conveyed to Mosman Council and any othper body/person who has authority to approve the proposal.
Brian & Yvonne Davidson
Appalled at the thought of the destruction to the village atmosphere and local shops.
Happy to sign, march and protest!
We are devastated to learn about the proposed development of a Woolworths supermarket in the heart of Mosman. We love living in Mosman because it has such a lovely village atmosphere with small specialty shops and boutiques. This will be destroyed by the arrival of a large chain store. The traffic in Mosman is already at breaking point especially on weekends in the summer with visitors trying to get to Balmoral beach and the zoo. To add to that with shoppers trying to access a major supermarket is just ridiculous. It will completely ruin the local amenity.
How do you feel about a potential Woolworths Supermarket adding dramatic amounts of traffic to the already very busy main Mosman shopping village along Military Road?
Do you want to see the unique early 20th century village streetscape of Mosman further eroded by a 3 or 4 storey modern supermarket development?
As a Mosman resident do you think there is enough potential parking on this potential site to satisfy the parking demand generated by the Woolworth’s 2 existing supermarkets in Neutral Bay?
Do you feel angry that a major corporation, which is also one of the largest operators of gambling machines in Australia wants to impose its heavy corporate footprint on the village atmosphere of Mosman?
If this happens it would be truly awful. It would ruin the lovely village atmosphere that Mosman has managed to hold onto despite our massive urban growth. Don’t know what I can do, but I’m happy to donate to a fighting fund. Please keep me posted.
Definitely not a Woolworths in Mosman, there are a few already in the vicinity, and it would be very unfair to all the businesses who have been operating in Mosman for years. Will also take away the village atmosphere. Will make more difficult to park increasing the traffic that is already a problem.
Woolworths has an MO that they use to systematically eliminate competition. I lived in Cessnock in the Hunter for a some years. Woolworths built a new store there twenty years ago where they offered a vast selection of top quality seafood at prices below cost. Naturally the good local fishmonger was forced out of business and, after that, Woolworths offered a much reduced selection of poorer quality seafood at much higher prices. This is the way [Woolworths] operate and they will do the same thing in Mosman to our retailers. If that happens, we will surely miss our excellent local grocers, green grocers, butchers, delicatessen operators and fishmongers, replaced with the mediocre and ubiquitous offerings of big business.
Hi, I just discovered this website but have been against the development since I first heard about it.
We oppose the Woolworths development in Mosman.
Redevelopment of Bridgepoint would be a much better option
My wife and I, Anthony and Sharni Monaghan, are candidates together for election to the NSW Legislative Council at the State election on 23 March 2019. Sharni is principal of Greylings Attorneys, whose office is above The Burger Shed at the corner of Military Rd and Raglan St. Anthony is employed at the firm.
Destructive, unnecessary, thoughtless overdevelopment around Sydney, such as proposed for Mosman by the gambling-liquor-real estate behemoth Woolworths Limited, promises to ruin the prosperity and harmony of a leafy community of real people, with families, friends, futures.
Mosman Village Community may be confidently assured of unstinting support from the Monaghans.
Anthony & Sharni Monaghan
Editor’s note – Mosman Village Community gratefully acknowledges the support of all candidates for political office. Our publication of a candidate’s expression of support does not imply MVC’s endorsement of their statements, policies or candidacy in general.
If the artist’s impression of the proposed Woolworths store is anything to go by ….UGLY! UGLY! UGLY!
60 Apartments????. UGLY!
I vote for Village aesthetics and lifestyle.
Woolworths proposal do NOT fit the bill
We don’t need another supermarket. Think of all the disruption during the building period and of course traffic problems for ever after.
There is no need for a Woolworths in Mosman! We are well served by two large and one small supermarket and the best butchers, bakers, greengrocers and delicatessens as well as a number of other specialty food etc shops. This is a development out of keeping with the suburb. Military Rd near the Mosman RSL is already congested, a Woolworths would only make the situation worse.
I feel very strongly that “big business” should not be able to walk over the majority of local residents in 2088 who want to preserve Mosman’s physical and emotional village atmosphere.
I strongly agree! we have to fight and stop that crazy development!