Supermarket Plans and Other Stuff

Have been trying to figure out what’s going on with the supermarket development on the highway for the last few weeks, and I’m trying to piece together lots of little bits of information, and I’ve not been blogging regularly because I always think I need to have my facts straight before I stick things on here (maybe I needn’t be so rigid). I’ve gone through the Council minutes at the local library and read the Employment and Land Strategy (which is where the Council says you can read about the rezoning of the land on the highway)… but all I could find was a tiny little paragraph about it, and it didn’t really say anything I could understand. I’ve also been reading articles in the News Paper about it, and talking to people generally, but the details are so unclear. What I’ve found out is that a Buidev-Coles submission to rezone the land (which currently won’t allow the building of a supermarket complex) has gone to Council; that the local Residence Association supports this over it going in the middle of town- though as far as I know they aren’t trying to stop the development, and the local Chamber of Commerce is opposing it going on the highway (but I’m not sure if they’re opposed to it entirely). The Newspaper has lots of articles and letters to the editor on the whole thing, but the public seems divided. I’ve been trying to get enough people interested to start a group. Although I’ve met several people who do care about this issue, so far I get the impression that people feel this issue is being discussed and fought by others- like the Chamber of Commerce, Council and Residence Association- and perhaps aren’t really sure what they, and me, could do.

So I’m still floundering around the Micro-stages of the project plan- who knew making connections would be so tricky! I thought I’d just walk up to someone go “Hey do you want to get together and do something about the rezoning/supermarket issue” and they’d go “Oh yes that sounds like fun- forget everything else I’d planned for today!” So, I will keep trying to find interested people, although I look like I have a one-track-mind at the moment asking everyone I run into if they’ve heard about it and what they think. I’m also going to keep researching on my own, so that when I do speak to people I have some more factual information to share. As Shields (1994) points out, its important to gather information on complex issues before launching into action or debates with people. Perhaps this idea seems pretty obvious, but it’s hard to be really well prepared when there is very little information out there and when the info that is out there is confusing, vague and uses government policy language! I’m going to try to talk more with people who are members of some of the involved groups and see if I can find out more that way!

Here's some Newspaper articles (and some public opinion) for anyone interested in this development:
http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/story/2010/04/17/retailers-battle-macksville-retailers-battle-super/
http://www.finda.com.au/story/2006/07/05/apn-shops-at-raj-mahal/
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02/24/2828980.htm?site=news

Branching Out

My project actions, and blog, started before I did my project plan for SWSP7123. I’m still carrying on with the Woopi Green Thumbs Gardening Project, but my project plan has branched out into other areas. This means that my blog too will be branching out into other issues relating to food production and consumption, and the current issue in Woopi around the Buildev-Coles proposed supermarket complex development. Hopefully this will be of interest to people wishing to take part in the Green Thumbs project, but if not, fell free to ignore such blogs, or alternatively you can debate with me, share your thoughts, or send me more relevant info on gardening, supermarkets and anything else related to food!

Pamphlets for Project

Here are three pamphlets that I made for the gardening project- I decided to go with the big one in the end, and handed it out at Curry Fest. I've hung the same one at the local library and on three different community message boards (see attached photo below)- hopefully people will see them and check us out!

Curryfest... and gardening

I walked down to Curryfest today. I said I wasn’t going to go this year because I was told I couldn’t give out pamphlets, but alas the beautiful smells and music sent me into a trance and I woke up to find myself in the middle of the festival eating curry, drinking coffee out of a biodegradable cup and lid (who knew?), and standing in the pouring rain talking to some lovely people who I haven’t seen in ages. On the advice of some renegade classmates, I handed out pamphlets on the Woopi Green Thumbs Gardening Project anyway, with the help of two great friends. No-one even noticed, so I’ll be sure to remember not to ask permission in future. Hopefully we’ll get some new recruits to the group! Although I won’t have much to offer anyone in the way of fruits and veggies at the rate my garden's going, I’m lucky I’ve got Jada82, Shanti, Punjabi Banana, Black Rabbi Pope and Choko Man on the job!

Music To Garden By

No time to garden lately. I need to get out and do more but work and assignments- and excuses of course- are getting in the way. So instead I've collected some "Music To Garden By" to motivate me... and have spent the evening putting it on my Blog. Procrastination and fun at the same time! Have a listen if you're bored or need some motivation to garden. Feel free to send me some gardening-themed songs; sustainable living songs or songs about fruits and veggies (though this may be tricky subject matter for musicians)! I'll swap them around with my favourites.

Our food bowl- The Price We Pay

I just watched an interesting ABC program on the Woolworths-Coles duopoly in Australia. It's definately worth watching just to see the complex circumstances surrounding a simple little vegetable!
You can watch it on line:
http://www.abc.net.au/4corners/content/2008/20080901_woolies/interviews.htm

Diary of My Day

Have gone off the garden path! I’ve discovered recently there is a push to open a shopping centre on the highway just outside of Woopi- with a Coles supermarket. This issue is connected to my project because my project is focusing on encouraging gardening and sustainable food production and consumption. Although I mostly just wanted to start a little project of people interested in gardening and exchanging things, I’m also interested in local economies generally... so now I’ve been trying to read up on all of this! There’s already a monstrosity of a shopping centre (with a Coles and accompanying liquor store) ten minutes down the road at Moonee Beach on the highway, and a lot of the shops are empty. If another shopping centre is put out on the highway it would not only be overkill, but would also divide the town- there would be no reason for people to drive into Woopi where there are a lot of unique local businesses and no chain stores. I’m sure local business would suffer. From a long term economic point of view (I'm trying to see it from a council perspective) it seems like Woopi having a niche, unique feel would be a huge advantage given that so many Australian town on the East Coast are beginning to look the same (i.e. stock standard shops like Woolies, Coles, K-Mart, Big W, Myers, McDonalds, KFC etc). Anyway, this is my current opinion which may change as I find out more… this is not as easy as it sounds. The newspaper articles on it are really confusing, the council’s webpage offers little info, the council meeting minutes are vague, I couldn’t find the plan at the library and I’m starting to wonder if there is a purpose behind making these plans so hard to access!

Here's a link to one of the newspaper articles for anyone interested.
http://www.coffscoastindependent.com.au/news/local/news/general/calls-to-rezone-highway-land-at-woolgoolga/1792477.aspx