Parkes Shire Mayor, Councillor Ken Keith OAM has responded to Target's announcement about plans to close the Parkes store, saying he is "shocked" at the decision.
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In an email to Parkes Council and Parkes Chamber of Commerce on Monday, Target's Managing Director, Marina Joanou said the store would be closing and there were no plans to convert the outlet to a Kmart.
The email said, "...following the first phase of a Westfarmers and Kmart Group strategic review of Target, decisions have been taken to accelerate Target towards being a smaller, more focuses and less complex business. Regrettably, our Target store at Parkes will be closing as part of this transformation".
READ MORE: Target announces Parkes store will be closed
Cr Keith noted the Parkes store was originally touted to stay open.
"In late May, Wesfarmers released a list of Target stores that were either closing or converting to a Kmart and Parkes' Target did not feature on either list," he said.
"Then out of the blue today we received a letter informing us of the closure - frankly, I am very disappointed and at a loss for words."
Cr Keith said the decision comes as a surprise considering a number of new developments and expansions that are taking place across the region.
"What beggars belief is that this announcement comes on the same day that the Deputy Premier John Barilaro announced that Parkes is one step closer to becoming the State's first Special Activation Precinct with the adoption of a new planning framework and master plan for the precinct," Cr Keith said.
"The master plan also sets out a long-term vision for the Parkes precinct, with up to 3,000 jobs coming from freight and logistics, resource recovery, and value-added agriculture - we should be celebrating this announcement but instead we are having to deal with a decision by Wesfarmers that seems illogical.
"Despite the fact that we have been battling one of the worst droughts in history and many of our businesses have been heavily impacted by COVID-19, we are still seeing positive investment in the economy.
"We are hopeful of a good harvest this year, Northparkes Mines is pushing ahead with a $300 million expansion project, Inland Rail has procured $100 million in local businesses, and there will be opportunities for local contractors to work on the new $168 million Parkes Bypass.
"We are working hard to grow Parkes, so when a decision like this happens it is a kick in the guts."
Cr Alan Ward, who is a local businessman and represents Council on the Parkes Chamber of Commerce, commented that, "Parkes is fast becoming a shopping destination for the western regions and with the development of Inland Rail will become large distribution centre".
"This decision will not only tragically affect the people employed at Target but will have a massive impact on the whole retail community. Reducing the retail opportunity in both Parkes and Forbes increases the likelihood of shoppers travelling out of town to larger centres - certainly a negative for the region."
Council said attempts have been made to contact Target's head office.
