Category: In your own words

John Geisner writes to the Mosman Daily

It’s a sad day when a local pillar like Pages & Pages has to give up the ghost and depart the sunny shores of Mosman Junction. Though several factors involved were mentioned by the owner, one in particular stands out as a major warning signal.

With its lease expiring in September – and commercial leases never go down – the overall uncertainties caused by [Woolworths] threat to inject a huge new supermarket and residential complex into the heart of Mosman was unquestionably paramount in the critical business decision made by Pages & Pages.

There is at least one good way to stem the threat of a stream of future abdications by future retailers. Add your name to the ever-growing list of citizens alarmed by the intended invasion. I recently signed a Stop Woolworths petition provided by the Mosman Village Community, who are encouraging further support by emailing them at mail@mosmanvillagecommunity.org. Every vote counts. Do it today. The preservation of a very special community is at stake.

Mosman Daily, 20 June 2019

Editor’s Note

Thanks John for your timely letter to the Mosman Daily.

Just to clarify, Mosman Village Community has not yet circulated a formal petition. But as John suggests we are urging residents to join the community campaign. Sign up here or email us at mail@mosmanvillagecommunity.org.

In a recent letter to the Mosman Daily, Mark Longhurst encouraged fellow residents to join MVC in opposing a Woolworths’ development in Mosman.

As stated on a number of occasions, and again last week, Woolworths in Mosman is unnecessary and unwanted by the majority of the community it wishes to serve, and the local retailers it wishes to eliminate.

The retail giant says that it will soon consult with the community (to tick that box) but make no mistake, after spending over $18 million already it is unlikely to listen to anyone with a negative view.

Council won’t comment until a DA is lodged, but the final decision is out of Council’s control and will be made by the ‘State Government’ appointed panel.

You only have to drive through North Sydney/St. Leonards to see what the State Government’s development plans are!

The January Mayoral column encouraged residents to participate in the community consultation process.

You can go to www.mosmanvillagecommunity.org for all the facts, including responses from Woolworths’ property personnel, our local member and others involved.

It is all too easy to think that someone else will do it!

We need big numbers to maintain the Village atmosphere that makes Mosman such a desirable suburb.

Mark Longhurst, MVC Organising Committee

---

To read more about what you can do to help our campaign to oppose a Woolworths’ development in Mosman village, please click here.

Jill L’Estrange tells us why she and other residents don’t want a Woolworths supermarket in Mosman.

Mosman Village is unique. It is one of the few remaining suburbs in Sydney that has retained its physical village character and atmosphere.

This character and atmosphere is due to the abundance of attractive shops, many of heritage significance, providing a variety of goods and essential services.

The shops located along Military Road provide restaurants and coffee shops that sit next to high end fashion retailers, financial institutions, food suppliers, jewellery stores, and more, creating an attractive destination for locals and visitors to the suburb.

The Village is a place where residents can meet during their daily shopping routine and enjoy the communal facilities on offer.

Mosman foremost is a community and that sense of community is enhanced by shopping where proprietors and customers build personal relationships. This leads to a sense of pride in the suburb and a sense of belonging to all concerned.

This sense of community is important to the mental, physical and social well-being of the individuals who live and shop in Mosman.

There is no doubt that a Woolworths’ supermarket would take substantial market share from various food retailers in Mosman, not only the three other existing supermarkets but also Harris Farm Markets and the smaller fruit and vegetable retailers, butchers, patisseries, bread shops and delicatessens. Many of these shops may be forced out of business as their market share dwindles. The result will be that the character of Mosman Village will be irreparably damaged.

Whilst the extent of Woolworths’ ambitions have not been revealed, we do know that:

• a percentage of land fronting Military Road between Belmont Road and Gouldsbury Street has been purchased by Woolworths and that they are currently negotiating on the purchase of further retail properties.
• it has been reported in the Mosman Daily that Woolworths has expended approximately $18m on the purchase of these properties.
• we can surmise that they have an extensive retail development in their sights which will include underground car parking for a large number of cars.

We need to protect our Village, our precious asset, from desecration by a mega supermarket chain.

Once our Village has lost its character it cannot be retrieved.

With this proposed development will come increased traffic, not only local traffic but from neighbouring suburbs. The catchment area for a Woolworths store in Mosman is likely to be from Cremorne to Seaforth.

Mosman traffic is already at peak capacity exacerbated because it is located on a peninsula. Increased traffic will cripple the suburb, impact on the residential areas and detract from the quality of life of Mosman residents.

As the proposed development is wedged between two schools, the increased traffic to this area, whether it be supply trucks or customers will not only result in a gridlock as parents collect their children from school but it will be a serious risk to pedestrian safety.

As a community we must stand together, voice our opposition and stand against Woolworths’ planned development.