It is now over 10 years since Franklins Supermarket left Caringbah Marketplace and the centre was subsequently obtained by Aldi.

At that time many Caringbah, and nearby residents, welcomed the change, and looked forward to the improvements which may arise from having Aldi as a neighbor, and the contribution this would make to the community, and the Caringbah shopping precinct.

Aldi subsequently submitted development applications to council. Since this time the negotiation with Sutherland Shire Council has reached an impasse, and the Caringbah community are left to suffer the consequences.

Regardless of Council's ambitions for the site, it seems the owners (Aldi) do not agree with the council's view.

Caringbah shopping precinct once had Caringbah Marketplace as the jewel in the crown, which served to provide a substantial retail facility to the entire area, and thereby attract business to the whole of the Caringbah business community.

In the 10 years since the closure of Caringbah Marketplace we have watched the marketplace building itself diminish into a dilapidated eyesore, a rubbish dump, and an embarrassment to the local community. And further, the subsequent slow diminishing of the surrounding businesses which can no longer rely on the marketplace to attract interest to the area.

Aldi are operating a huge network of stores throughout Australia and appear to be fine members of the business, and local community wherever they provide a retail outlet. I believe that whatever Aldi are proposing for this sight would have to be a massive improvement on the disgusting habitat that the building once known as Caringbah Marketplace has become.

I call upon Sutherland Shire Council to soften their stance on whatever they envisaged for Caringbah Marketplace 10 years ago.

Please allow Aldi to bring back to Caringbah it's lost shine, clean up this area, and provide the residents with the shopping precinct we once enjoyed.

The Leader October 22 2019