{"id":258504,"date":"2020-05-25T16:41:39","date_gmt":"2020-05-25T06:41:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=258504"},"modified":"2020-07-03T15:47:08","modified_gmt":"2020-07-03T05:47:08","slug":"council-lobbies-to-save-store","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2020\/05\/25\/council-lobbies-to-save-store\/","title":{"rendered":"Council Lobbies To Save Store"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mayor Brett Otto and Cr Kathy Duff outside Murgon’s Target Country at the weekend (Photo: Cr Kathy Duff)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 25, 2020<\/strong><\/p>\n

South Burnett Mayor Brett Otto has approached the State Government in a bid to convince Wesfarmers to change its mind about the future of Murgon’s Target Country store.<\/p>\n

Wesfarmers announced on Friday it would be closing\u00a0\u00a0up to 75 Target stores around Australia, including\u00a050 Target Country stores which it did not believe were suitable for conversion to\u00a0small-format Kmart stores.<\/p>\n

It later confirmed the Target Country store in Murgon was among those earmarked for closure in “early-mid 2021”.<\/p>\n

The announcement has shocked local residents and the business community.<\/p>\n

Murgon Business Development Association planned to meet on Monday evening\u00a0to discuss the closure and organise a response, including a community petition.<\/p>\n

Mayor Otto said Target had advised Council it was contacting staff to offer support and provide offers of employment or redeployment as available.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“Target have also advised that they will be working with other employers to find additional opportunities for existing staff,” Mayor Otto said.<\/p>\n

“It is aware of the impact this transformation will have on local communities.<\/p>\n

“I am extremely conscious of the importance of this store to the people of Murgon, Cherbourg, Wondai and all of the surrounding farming districts.<\/p>\n

“It is the sole supplier of various items, a vital business in keeping people shopping locally and provides 10 local jobs.<\/p>\n

“Rest assured that I will be supporting (Division 5) councillor Kathy Duff in doing whatever we can on this matter.<\/p>\n

“I have today reached out to the Premier in seeking the support of her office in approaching the Kmart group as to options for converting the Target Country store to a Kmart hub.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I have also spoken with the corporate affairs department of Target Country and await their response as to possible alternative strategies for the Murgon store.<\/p>\n

“Cr Duff is also working closely with the Murgon Business Development Association to prepare a community response, including a petition to the Kmart Group.<\/p>\n

“We are also working hard on other options for job creation in the local area and will keep everyone informed on our progress as we are able to do so.”<\/p>\n