BERMAGUI Woolworths was finally opened on Tuesday night to a crowd of staff, their families and people who had been involved in the project.
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It will be officially opened to the public at 8am on Wednesday.
The 180-strong crowd gathered outside the new building to hear speeches by Woolworths’ management staff before Member for Eden Monaro Peter Hendy, Bega Valley Shire Mayor Michael Britten and new store manager Craig Scott cut the ribbon to the store.
Woolworths operations manager for NSW/ACT David Hayes said the store in Bermagui was the company’s 951st store in Australia and offered 50 places of employment to new people and 10 employees had been transferred there.
Mr Hayes said Woolworths’ research showed many people from Bermagui travel to other towns in order to do their shopping, and he believed having a Woolworths store in the town would help keep those people in Bermagui as well as attract others from nearby in to visit the new store.
“We’re not about working against local businesses, we see ourselves as supporting local businesses,” he said.
Mr Hayes said Bermagui Woolworths was hoping to use local producers to provide produce, and the company had made contact with some and hoped to use their produce in the coming months.
He thought it was disappointing to everyone that the Beer Wine Spirits store in the building was not open by Tuesday night.
Earlier in the day a Woolworths spokesperson said the company is still awaiting approval for a liquor license for the proposed BWS store.
They said signage was recently installed while contractors were on site in the hope the licence application was granted.
"At just over 1500 square metres, around half the size of a typical Woolworths supermarket, the new store has been tailored to suit the community, and will provide customers with fresh Australian produce and a wide range of grocery items at great prices," the spokesperson said.
"Sixty people are employed at the store, including more than 40 people new to Woolworths, some of whom are starting their first job with us at Bermagui, or returning to the workforce."
Mr Scott said partnerships had been formed with the Bermagui Life Saving Club and the Bermagui Public School.
He presented both groups a $1000 cheque to each from Woolworths as a result of the partnerships.
The other dignitaries also spoke at the opening ceremony, supporting the new development.
“I think this investment by Woolworths is a real vote of confidence in Bermagui,” Dr Hendy said.
“This is not just about shopping experiences; this is about jobs for our young people, which is great.”
Mayor Britten commented the Woolworths development had been a “long and eventful journey”, starting back in 2013.
He said the façade of the store “really does fit Bermagui”.
“I welcome this asset to the shire,” he said.