Hi, just wondering if other 'Catters who live in RURAL areas are experiencing similar problems to my home of Maleny, SE Queensland, Australia.

A large proportion of our population wants to retain our rural charm and community values and strong local ethical economy, in preference to the big-city Woolworths Supermarket moving in and taking over everything.

The usual tactics are to build a huge concrete monstrosity and due to their corporate buying power, make food prices so cheap that the existing local small businesses can't compete. Then when these have closed down and the BigBoys have got the monopoly, UP go their prices!!!

Trouble is, these BigBullyBoys don't buy from local fresh organic growers and producers, but from a centralised point elsewhere in the nation - and neither do they support the local community in donations the way our small businesses currently do. Corporate profits also go to the directors and shareholders elsewhere and are not spent in the local area.

Despite claims of "creating employment", statistics show that more jobs are actually lost when these guys come to your town, due to the closure of other businesses : Woollies like to gain control of "The Big 3" : food, fuel, alcohol - so after establishing the Supermarket, they put in the petrol/gas bowsers, then the tavern/pub. They also, of course, cover the bakery, newsagent, greengrocer, chemist/pharmacy areas (to name just a few) within their complex.

We have just witnessed the developers moving in with the bulldozers and (illegally) destroying stands of mature trees along our river bank (homes of the birds and possums) and in the process, the habitat of the endangered Platypus - all in the name of "Progress" that WE MUST HAVE, just because it suits the Big Business Bullies to increase their power and profits in OUR town : what The Community want for themselves and their future and the town in which they live, counts for nought!!!

I have posted this email from a friend who has posted pictures and data on The Net on the battle so far :

" Hello everyone,
Please take the time to have a look at this website that I have created regarding the protest action we are undertaking here in Maleny against a supermarket development.

http://www.ecocyber.com.au/maleny/Index.htm

If you are concerned by what you see and read, please send an email of protest to those able to remedy things:
http://www.ecocyber.com.au/maleny/Residents_Info.htm
Thanks for taking the time to support my town in this action.
Regards,
Steve "


Can other 'Catters report on similar happenings in their villages and towns??? Have any of you WON battles (or the war??)

Thanks,
Cheers! R-J