VACANT shops in Bowral’s main street have been the subject of much contention since surrounding businesses heard St Vincent de Paul was moving in.
Afraid the charity would not fit in with the specialist boutiques, more than 60 business owners petitioned and were successful at blocking the deal that would see St Vincent de Paul lease shops at 371 Bong Bong Street.
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St Vincent de Paul Bowral president Joseph Buhagiar said he was shocked to hear there was such strong opposition.
“The first we heard of it was when we went to sign the lease and found the owner had been pressured into withdrawing his approval,” he said.
“I have read the letter by [shop owner Linda] Dunsire and I would have to say her concerns are just not fair.
“Saying that we will bring the place down in value is unreasonable.
“Firstly, we don’t plan to have donation bins at the site so there won’t be any dumping, and if there is we will have it removed immediately.
“What people don’t seem to realise is we have had a shop at the other end of the main street in Bowral for the last 10 to 15 years, without incident.”
Mr Buhagiar described the block by businesses as “uncharitable”.
“The site in question would be perfect for us. We would have one shop full of furniture and the other shop would also have an office where we could really help people in need - there is a real need for our services in Bowral,” he said.
Mr Buhagiar said the petition of 60-plus signatures against St Vincent de Paul’s move “means nothing”.
“I could get you more than 1000 signatures from people supporting our plans,” Mr Buhagiar said.
Leading the campaign to stop the charity from moving next door was So French owner Linda Dunsire.
“A lot of the retailers were upset about it. The biggest concern is not with the charity itself but the ramifications of the illegal dumping of unwanted goods on the main street, back lane and parking area of this site,” Ms Dunsire said.
“Bowral is already suffering at the hands of vandals and we fear dumped items would be used as projectiles to smash windows.
“We don’t want that in the main street of Bowral; that is just not what people come to Bowral for.
“We don’t want it to be a demographic fight where people think we are just snobs who don’t want a charity in the main street. It’s just about preserving the individuality of the Southern Highlands and interest for tourism.”
Ms Dunsire said more needed to be done to maintain the integrity of shops that are given a place in the main street.
“There are only three main blocks of shops and it’s nothing against St Vincent de Paul; we are more than happy for them to be in a side street or industrial area because they do provide an important service to the community, but they don’t need to be in the main street,” Ms Dunsire said.
Country Threads owner Graham Bolton said he was against any plan to put more businesses in the main street that won’t commit to opening for a full day on Saturdays.
“With so much activity out at Mittagong with the Marketplace, Bowral is struggling,” Mr Bolton said.
‘St Vincent de Paul only want to open for a half-day on Saturdays. As a tourism town we need that weekend trade.”
Kish manager Trish Boswell said she couldn’t understand how a charity could afford the main street rents.
“It just seems odd to me. I have nothing against Vinnies, in fact, I shop there regularly, and that’s why it concerns me that the money they make for people in need at that shop will go primarily on rent,” Ms Boswell said.
“It just seems an odd fit too. People will source out shops like Vinnies and the Salvation Army so they don’t really need a main street position.”
Bowral Business Chamber chief Tony Springett said the businesses had every right to raise their concerns.
“This is a tourism town and there is a lot at stake for business, and I do believe generally Bowral is a very charitable town,” Mr Springett.
“But on the same token the owner has knocked back a deal that would see his shop leased, which is a big call.”
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