Land council could set up Wilcannia supermarket

The Wilcannia Local Aboriginal Land Council is seeking a loan to set up its own food store, after the town's only supermarket closed suddenly this year.

In August, locals were forced to get fresh fruit and medical supplies trucked in from Broken Hill, when the store closed without warning.

It reopened a week later, but the land council's chief executive, Jack Beetson, says that incident prompted the council to investigate setting up its own shop.

Mr Beetson says he has received business advice from the University of Sydney, and is now putting together a proposal.

"We've had discussions with some of the different bodies that do have low-interest loans, we've talked to them about the possibility, they're very keen to do that," Mr Beetson said.

"Obviously when you're putting together a business plan they would want some sort of a study that suggests that this thing is a goer, and so we need to demonstrate that, yes, two stores can exist in the town."

The Land Council will also consider making a bid for Wilcannia's only current supermarket.

"We could possibly talk to the current store owner about whether he might want to sell his shop, or we look at setting up our own, but all of that will depend on us being able to establish, clearly establish, that the town could have two stores," Mr Beetson said.

Source: ABC News, 30 November 2012