State government backing would be a key requirement if major city retailer Myer was to consider opening its doors longer.
State government backing would be a key requirement if major city retailer Myer was to consider opening its doors longer.
Longer opening hours for key retailers is a policy pushed by lord mayoral candidate Max Kay, who wants the stores to open longer to keep the city more vibrant and reduce traffic congestion.
While Myer confirmed it had discussed the issue with Mr Kay, who heads a City of Perth committee dealing with trading hours and wants retailers to keep their doors open until at least 7pm, the national retailer would require a firm commitment from the Department of Transport that its customers and staff could arrive and depart the city safely and quickly.
Myer Perth store manager David Ondaatje said the store was constantly reviewing its trading hours and would monitor market conditions to determine what was best for its customers and staff. “At the moment we are not going to extend our trading hours but we’ll be watching carefully. We have the ability to trade until 7pm and we operate well within these laws,” he said.
The trading hours initiative was one of several ideas pitched to property industry representatives last week during a Property Council of Australia WA forum of lord mayoral candidates.
Mr Kay joined fellow councillors and lord mayoral candidates Michael Sutherland and Lisa Scaffidi, former stockbroker Neil McKinnon and pensioner Bill Bradbury in discussing their policies.
Many of the councillors pitched their ability to improve relations with the state government, considered the biggest issue behind the stalling of several major projects in the city.
The Myer concerns about public transport further underline the role of the state government in the central business district, no matter what the policies of the council.
David Jones was unavailable for comment on the trading hours issue.
Mr Kay said Myer and David Jones already had the right to open until 7pm Monday to Thursday and 9pm on Fridays, while being in a unique position to be allowed to open on Sundays in the city.
Mr Kay said there was also merit in changing the store opening times to after10am – essentially creating two rush hour periods.
“There is unprecedented pressure on transport infrastructure at the moment. I think the government would be delighted to have two rush hour periods,” he said.
Parking and traffic congestion were also issues voiced by several candidates for lord mayor.