Inaction claim

By Lia Bichel
COUNCIL’S lack of action in pursuing a US retail giant for Casey was frustrating, a former councillor has said.
After learning bargain hunters may have a long wait before the successful international membership club Costco arrived in Casey, former Mayfield Ward councillor Steve Beardon told the News he was frustrated by many councillors’ lack of action and lack of vision for the city.
Mr Beardon said he had made contact with USA Costco vice-president in 2007 before he invited Costco representative Patrick Noone to Casey. Mr Beardon said he travelled at his own expense to the USA to visit one of the highest turnover Costcos in the USA and presented a “very promising” proposal to house a Costco in Cranbourne.
“I’d say the reason Casey does not have a Costco, or an Ikea, is not because we don’t have the land or room – but because Casey councillors lack vision and can’t think out side the square or envisage such wonderful opportunities,” Mr Beardon said. “The land behind Bunning’s in Cranbourne is ideal to house a Costco, a Big W and an Ikea. A Costco would attract many other department stores to Cranbourne.”
Mr Beardon said housing large retail stores would boost employment opportunities and transform Casey into a “dynamic and exciting place to live.”
“When it comes to Costco coming to Casey, you have to be excited about it,” Mr Beardon said. “Everyday you are elected on council you have a chance to do wonderful things. Here is an opportunity to do that.”
City of Casey mayor Geoff Ablett said one of the council’s key priorities was to actively seek to attract jobs and businesses to the area, so would welcome a Costco store in an appropriate location in the municipality.
He said, however, since the meeting between the council and Costco in mid-2008, Costco has been focusing its efforts on opening a Melbourne store.