THE Millicent Business Community Association (MBCA) will navigate a more in-depth application process in a bid to extend trading hours on two popular April days.
Members of the public have been asked for their opinion by the association on whether the three regulated shops in Millicent should be granted special permission by the State Government to open their doors on two days in April.
An exemption is required for these retailers to trade on Easter Saturday (April 20) and Geltwood Market Day (Sunday, April 7).
The application for an exemption will be submitted by the business lobby group after community feedback is considered.
The closing date for feedback to the association is Tuesday.
Easter Saturday is a designated public holiday and an exemption must always be obtained.
Extended trading on Geltwood Market Day has taken place for over 15 years and a number of Millicent’s unregulated traders follow suit to capture the extra trade.
Millicent is a Proclaimed Shopping District and Woolworths, Foster’s Foodland and Target Country are regulated shops under State Legislation.
They will be shut on the three other days of the Easter holiday long weekend.
Association chairman Lee Morgan said a letter from the State Government stated the minister may take into account the extent of community consultation.
“In correspondence received from the State Government, the intent of the legislation has been expressed,” Mr Morgan said.
“In exercising due diligence, this matter was discussed at last week’s MBCA meeting.
“It was resolved to provide an advertisement to demonstrate satisfactory consultation in the South Eastern Times.
“The MBCA is happy at this stage to facilitate the issue of these exemptions noting that one of the beneficiaries of this exemption is currently not a member of the MBCA.”
According to association secretary Marg Chapple, her organisation had always applied for these exemptions.
“There is a more in-depth process to go through in 2019,” Ms Chapple said.
Foster’s Foodland proprietor Brian Foster said operational costs were higher across the two days in question, but felt opening the doors was a way of supporting customers.
“We support when our customers want us to open,” Mr Foster said.
“We view trading on Easter Saturday as a service to the community as there are many visitors in Millicent,” Mr Foster said.
“We are happy to support the Geltwood Festival because it has a strong community focus”.
Millicent shopper Emelia Tidy said a rare exemption for Sunday trading in Millicent was warranted due to the importance of the Geltwood Festival.
“It brings people to Millicent,” Ms Tidy said.
“The Geltwood Festival is a chance for creative minds to come together”.
Millicent is the sole country town in South Australia to have regulated shopping and this status has applied for several years.
Woolworths and Foster’s Foodland have been trading in Millicent for the past 49 years while Target Country opened as a Coles store in 1964.
In 2012, Woolworths opened for trading on Easter Saturday at 6am and it is understood this “early” opening time was without precedent.
The 2019 application seeks trading from 9am to 5pm on Geltwood Market Day and 7am to 5pm on Easter Saturday.
The Geltwood Market Day has had additional family-focused activities due to the involvement of the Millicent Lions Club in recent years.
Safework SA is the State Government agency which oversees trading exemptions.
“Since the change of State Government in March 2018, there has been no change to the statutory requirements for making an application for an exemption from the Shop Trading Hours Act 1977,” a Safework SA spokesperson said.
Treasurer Rob Lucas is the minister responsible for granting exemptions.
“I have not received a formal application for Easter Saturday and Geltwood Festival Market Day trading yet, however I do expect one,” Mr Lucas said.
“I understand the background to the Geltwood Festival celebration and I’ll bear that in mind when I consider the application.”
