A quirk of old shire boundaries has led to division in Albany over retail trading.
When the town and shire of Albany amalgamated in 1998, the shire had seven-day trading, which allowed the then locally owned Farm Fresh to continue operating seven days a week.
Farm Fresh was eventually sold to Woolworths, and the seven-day trading allowance carried over.
Within the town of Albany, however, Coles is unable to trade seven days a week, while Dewsons, with fewer than 10 employees, can.
After a two-year trial of Sunday trading during school holidays, which concluded early last year, Albany held a referendum in May on the issue of seven-day trading, which was close, but ended up against seven-day trading.
Albany Chamber of Commerce and Industry CEO Jo Hummerston said retail trading was a very divisive issue, and that the chamber did not take a stance in the referendum.
“We have always had a policy of free enterprise,” Ms Hummer-ston told WA Business News.
“But our members were so evenly split on the issue that we did not want to take a position.”
Recommendations have been made to the State Government that retail outlets not be allowed to open on Sunday, but a decision is still pending.
