Cr Steve Beardon hopes to convince Costco executives to set up shop in Casey. By Glen Atwell
A RENEWED effort to lure United States retail giant Costco to Casey will be launched by councillor Steve Beardon when he presents to the company’s management in California later this month.
Cr Beardon will tour a Costco store in Santa Rosa and distribute an information pack being prepared by Casey Council staff.
The information pack will be handed to Costco executives and will provide management with an overview of Casey and potential sites for a store.
A letter from Casey mayor Janet Halsall will also be included.
City of Casey director of planning and development services Peter Fitchett told the News that Casey would welcome a Costco store.
“The early advice council received about Costco opening an outlet in Melbourne was there would only be one store – and that it would be at the Docklands,” he said.
“However, council has recently received further advice that Costco is now proposing to open a number of stores in Melbourne, and if this were to take place, the City of Casey would be keen to see a Costco store located in our municipality.
“A Costco store would create a point of difference for the Cranbourne Town Centre as a shopping destination, supporting the centre’s existing businesses and providing jobs locally for our residents.
“Costco’s retail model is somewhat different to existing retailers in Casey and it is likely that Costco’s presence in Casey would be beneficial for residents as it would increase competition amongst retailers, providing for potential savings on some goods to customers, while also providing local jobs for residents,” Mr Fitchett said.
Costco is a retail membership club that sells products in bulk at highly discounted prices to its members.
Bargain hunters in the US pay a $50 annual membership fee to shop at Costco, and in return can purchase a range of products, including groceries, gadgets and whitegoods, at a discount rate of about 15 per cent.
With 529 stores around the world, 136,000 employees and an annual turnover of about $65 billion, Costco is the eighth-largest retailer in the world.
On 20 June, Costco announced it would open its first Australian store at Waterfront City in Docklands.
The store will be on Footscray Road directly under the Southern Star Observation Wheel.
It will be about 13,000 square metres with about 553 car spaces and will operate seven days a week.
Construction is scheduled to begin in September and is due for completion at the end of 2009.
City of Casey councillor Lorraine Wreford, who is believed to have links to Costco representatives in Australia, said she was happy to facilitate discussion with the retail giant.
“I am happy to support discussions with Costco in the hope that they see Casey as an attractive place to locate their next Victorian discount store,” she said.
“I believe this would be win-win situation for both the residents of Casey and Costco.”
Cr Beardon said he would work hard to entice the retailer to set up shop in Casey.
“We know Costco hopes to open five stores in Australia in the next year,” he said.
“The Cranbourne West business precinct could be the perfect location.”
Cr Beardon will make the pitch to Costco management during his self-funded trip to the US to speak at an anti-graffiti conference, beginning on 31 July.
Costco international executive Jim Murphy was unavailable for comment.
