TAMWORTH could be home to three Aldi Supermarkets in the near future, with the retail giant staking claim on a prime piece of land close to the CBD.
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A development application lodged with Tamworth Regional Council has revealed Aldi’s intention to build a $6.4 million dollar supermarket on Peel St, between the Elgas headquarters and the BP service station.
Plans for the new development, lodged through council, state the 1715sqm supermarket would operate from 8.30am until 8pm six days per week, and until 9pm on Thursdays.
A car park with 96 parking spaces would also be constructed, in addition to bicycle spaces and a loading dock complete with landscaping around the premises. The new store is expected to employ up to 20 people on a full time and part time basis.
The Development Application was lodged by Stimson and Baker Planning and is on exhibition with Council until June 13. It is the second development application lodged by representatives for Aldi in the space of six months and follows a $5.39 million application lodged in February to build a second Aldi store at the site of the original Masters’ location off Scott Rd.
On Tuesday, Tamworth council confirmed there were two current development applications with its planning department.
The Peel St development would be the third Aldi supermarket for the city in the space of five years, after the chain’s first supermarket opened in Centrepoint Shopping Centre in 2012.
Despite requests for comment by The Leader, a spokesperson for Aldi was unable to confirm a third project would go ahead in Tamworth.
Tamworth Mayor Col Murray welcomed the idea of a third store in the city, believing it could be beneficial for residents. However he admitted the city could be reaching near its “service level” of supermarkets - a total of 10 should the development go ahead.
“It can only be good for the consumer, competition is what holds prices to order,” he said.
“The other thing is there must be confidence in a multi-national company like Aldi in the city, for them to be investing in two additional supermarkets.”
“Supply and demand always finds its own level eventually, and we’re seeing the expansion of IGA in Calala, there’s a couple of new Aldi, Coles have done a couple of major renewals and Woolworths have done a significant expansion, we must getting near the upper service level.”
