THE final chapter of a 40-plus year retail era in Mount Gambier will end tomorrow with the closure of the Target store.
The former bustling discount department store is now an empty shell as staff continue to clear the last remnants from the stripped retail floor.
The building is expected to be fully vacated by the national retailer by the end of June ahead of the looming demolition of the building’s footprint.
A $12m Coles Supermarket complex – which will include 10 speciality shops – will be constructed on the prominent site.
While a number of the 35 affected staff have found alternative employment, the state’s retail workers union revealed yesterday up to 10 employees have yet to be offered new jobs within the broader Target group.
Shop, Distributive and Allied Employees Association secretary Josh Peak yesterday made a renewed call to the retail group to find employment opportunities for these displaced employees.
While a number of staff had been transferred to other Target stores or had found alternative employment, he said some employees were still waiting re-employment offers.
“We urge the company to take every step to find suitable jobs for these employees,” Mr Peak told The Border Watch.
He argued the union believed the retail group had the “capacity” to deliver this outcome in the South East.
“There are a small handful of employees – under 10 people – who have yet to have their re-employment come through,” the union spokesperson said.
He said these employees could be transferred to Bunnings, Kmart and other retail businesses within the Wesfarmers chain.
Mr Peak revealed a number of staff had also taken redundancy packages and some casual workers had been transferred to other Wesfarmers-associated stores.
Given some workers had given decades of service, he said the closure of the Target store had been stressful and emotional time for employees.
Conceding the retail sector was experiencing a difficult environment, he said the closure of any large store in a regional area was disappointing and a “sad outcome”.
But he said there were positive trends in the Mount Gambier retail sector, particularly with the looming Aldi and Coles developments.
“We believe the retail sector in the South East is still strong,” Mr Peak said.
Mount Gambier Mayor Lynette Martin OAM said her thoughts were with the employees who were displaced by the closure.
“It is an iconic business that has been part of our community for many years and it is disappointing staff will lose their jobs at the store,” Ms Martin said.
“While it is disappointing this long running business will close, an exciting retail opportunity has been secured for the site.”
She said this development would bring new positive opportunities for the city’s retail sector and should build further vibrancy in the heart of the city.
Melbourne-based developer GLG has foreshadowed demolition of the Target store was likely to get under way in July/August with construction kicking off around late August or early November.
An Aldi store will be constructed at the front of the site.
The Border Watch contacted Target for comment.
