Appeal against Aldi supermarket dropped
ALDI is now able to start construction on its next supermarket in the Toowoomba region, after a court appeal was dropped.
The German supermarket giant was approved last year to build another store in Highfields, but faced a legal challenge from a concerned resident and property developer.
But it can be revealed the appeal has now been discontinued by applicant Stephen Bowers, clearing the way for Aldi to start work on Highfields Rd.
Just when it will start construction is still a mystery, after a spokeswoman denied the company had begun work at the site.
The new store was first proposed in 2016.
TONY Wilkes has been managing supermarkets across Queensland for more than 20 years, but now he’s back in the region where he grew up.
Mr Wilkes celebrated the opening of the new IGA supermarket and green grocer at Kingsthorpe yesterday, with plenty of customers checking out the store on Gowrie St.
The store is part of a new complex featuring a pharmacy, medical centre, dentist, liquor store and an upcoming cafe.
A Dalby-born man who was schooled in Toowoomba, Mr Wilkes said he wanted to service a community that desperately needed quality produce and service.
“The main appeal was to come back to the country and put something on the ground that wasn’t going to be saturated,” he said.
“We can run on lower margins so it’s all about value and quality, which I think we can do in this location.
“These regions are craving a quality offer.”
The supermarket has also employed more than 20 staff, nearly all from the Kingsthorpe and Gowrie communities.
Mr Wilkes said fruit and vegetables were the store’s biggest strengths.
“We’re pulling straight out from the Brisbane markets and we’ve got an industry veteran as our produce specialist,” he said.
“We want to create a fruit and vegetable shop within a supermarket.”
IGA is open seven days, 6am to 9pm.