Published on Friday, 4 October 2024 at 2:04:26 PM
Council approved a permanent change to extended retail trading hours, to benefit Woolworths and any small businesses which have not applied for a state issued certificate.
The extended trading hours will cover all Sundays in January and public holidays between Christmas and Easter, allowing these shops to open between 10am and 4pm on those days.
The move to a permanent change in retail trading hours comes after annual requests since 2020 for temporary trading hour changes, and will be a much-needed efficiency.
Community feedback submitted during the consultation period in December 2023 showed overwhelming support for extended trading hours, was taken into account by staff drafting the proposal for permanent extended hours and Councillors in voting on the Item. Increasing numbers of tourists to our region, as well as consumers seeking more choice and flexible shopping hours were also factors in consideration of this matter.
The proposal for permanent extended retail trading hours will now go to the Minister for Commerce for a final decision, with hopes that the determination will be settled before the Christmas -Easter period. If the decision is delayed, Council have instructed the CEO to seek temporary retail trading hours, as has been done in recent years.
For full details read the Shire officer’s Report to Council in the Minutes for the September Ordinary Council Meeting on our website here.
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