THE looming closure of the 40-year-old Target store has sparked a community outcry with nearly 2000 people signing an online petition calling on the retail giant to reverse its shock decision.
The petition follows confirmation from Target management the iconic retail store will shut its doors on May 25.
The retail giant appears to be exiting the Blue Lake city with no plans to relocate into another smaller retail space.
It is understood the sprawling Target store site will be redeveloped into a multi-million-dollar new Coles Supermarket, which will share the Fidler and Webb site with supermarket discount juggernaut ALDI and four retail shops.
Mount Gambier City Council has yet to receive a development application for stage two of the Fidler and Webb precinct, but it is understood its lodgment is imminent.
The news comes as ALDI receives the green light for stage one of the redevelopment of the site that will house its new store.
It is hoped many of the displaced 35 Target workers could be redeployed at the Coles Supermarket or Wesfarmers associated stores such as Bunnings and Kmart.
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association state assistant secretary Josh Peak told The Border Watch the union had deployed organisers in store to speak with stunned employees.
“Staff are shocked and saddened about what has happened, some have given more than 30 years of service,” Mr Peak told The Border Watch yesterday.
“The store has been a big part of their lives and staff are really sad it is closing.”
He said a number of staff had already decided to take redundancy packages, while others would seek redeployment in other stores.
The union has negotiated above standard conditions in the redundancy packages for employees.
“The union wants to see all staff have the opportunity to relocate,” Mr Peak said.
While the shop union flagged the option of Target relocating to another smaller location, he said it appeared the discount retailer was not considering this “at this stage”.
He said the national retailer was reducing its store footprint across the nation given the tough economic climate faced by department stores.
Mr Peak said it appeared Mount Gambier could not sustain the presence of three large discount department stores.
He revealed the arrival of Big W had hurt the Target store given it already had competition from Kmart.
“But it is not all doom for the retail sector in Mount Gambier given Coles plans to build a new supermarket, which will revitalise the Target store site,” Mr Peak said.
“This is a positive outcome for Mount Gambier.
Mount Gambier resident Joshua Aardenburg has thrown his support behind the workers by starting an online petition.
The petition calls on the national retailer to keep a Target store in Mount Gambier.
“I am hoping the petition will save Target – we do not want another good store to close,” Mr Aardenburg said.
“So let’s show Target how much support there is for our target.”
Target declined to comment further on the decision yesterday, which it confirmed exclusively to The Border Watch last week.
In a statement, the retailer encouraged people to continue to shop with the brand online.
Coles have yet to release details of the development.
While starting date for demolition of the Fidler and Webb building is not known, ALDI has indicated it wanted construction to begin on its new store during the first quarter of 2019.
