Hi Daryl, I came across your website while doing a search on some issues related to the town of Bright where I live.

I note your “rant” against the proposed Coles development in the tourist town of Bright and would just like to give a different version of the issue - i.e. from a more local point of view.

There are very few people in Bright actually opposed to this development. The town only has one large supermarket (IGA) and they seem to be the main drivers of the protest campaign.

There are serious doubts over the authenticity of many of the objections submitted to the Alpine Shire Council and likewise over the authenticity of the website you mentioned, which has been run somewhat anonymously with strong undertones of radicalism and anti-corporate sentiments.

Those connected to the “savebright” campaign appear to be anti all development, full stop. This sentiment has also been evident in some letters written to the local paper - some people just want the town to “stay as it is”, which is an impossible (and economically undesirable) objective.

Bright is a town with a 100% tourist based economy and must look to growth in tourism as well as residentially if it is to maintain its standard of living. Otherwise it’ll just go backwards, which is something it’s being doing over the last few years.

Also, many people in Bright presently do their weekly shopping in neighbouring Myrtleford (a 60km round trip) due to the belief that prices are higher in Bright - whether that’s true or not isn’t the point, the town clearly misses out when locals shop outside.

As for the character of the town, looking at the architect’s drawings I can’t see the new development being detrimental - in fact if anything it would be a vast improvement to the CBD. Bright’s character is created more by its setting, ie the surrounding hills, the river and the tree lined streets (very spectacular in Autumn). That will all still be there no matter how many new shops are built.

I don’t think the claim that Coles would = 40% of existing retail floor space is accurate at all. The supermarket may not be “needed” at this very point in time but those opposing it are not really thinking of the future.

There’s no doubt that Bright’s population is increasing almost daily and looking ahead we’re likely to see a huge influx of “baby boomers” relocating over the next decade given Bright’s attributes and incredible range of facilities for a small town (4 banks, 5 doctors, a hospital, many restaurants, etc).

At least the proposed site is within the existing CBD, albeit on the edge of the commercial zone. If it doesn’t go ahead there what’s likely to happen down the track is there’ll be a supermarket built a bit further out on the Great Alpine Road (there’s already a viable site), which would fragment the town and make the entrance look plain awful.

I hope this puts the issue into a clearer perspective. Cheers.

Hello Daryl,

Typed Bright into google and found your website. Found your comment “In my opinion, the community has more to lose than gain by allowing the development to proceed” rather interesting.

You may find it interesting that those businesses in town that are members of the SaveBright protest group are also responsible for the demise of many of our heritage buildings.

If you have been comming to Bright for more than just a couple of years you will remember The Miners Cottage? It was a lovely little cottage run by the Swift family, situated in the main street of Bright. You might remember what happened to that building? Thats right, it was bulldozed to make way for the new Chemist development - yes thats right - the same people who are members of Save Bright. But theres some light to shine on this story, they actually saved the bricks from the original building and built them into the side of the new chemist for historical purposes (public pressure). Funny thing is you cant see it anymore - because more Save Bright members also known as the IGA supermarket covered it over with there Supa IGA extensions!

That Daryl is only skimming the iceberg of what hypocrits they are!

JA

Daryl doesn’t seem to believe in responding to comments. That’s his perogative I suppose. Pity, why rant about something being “wrong” but not answer those who suggest there’s a different point of view? And why I’m wasting my time here I’m not sure. Cheers.

Daryl,

Thanks for your interest in Bright.

As a Bright local, I like it as much as you do (perhaps a bit more).

I must apologise for the likes of Ray Dixon and his rambling post above.

He has not been in Bright all that long and doesnt seem to understand that there is a village feel to the town which people are drawn to. His comments that most in town support the development are false (not that it should sway your opinion).

So far over 2000 objections have been lodged, as well as a survey taken of tourists (approx 1500 over 6 weeks), all of whom display the same sentiment as you concerning preserving Bright’s uniqueness.

Thanks for the input, and indirect support to the campaign, and we hope we’ll be able to keep Bright the beautiful place it is for your next visit!

Warm regards

Hi Daryl the town is already over developed. If you are a regular visitor you will have noticed the housing developments and numerous flats and townhouses stretching out in all directions and every little piece of land no matter how small has some units or a house crammed onto it. The housing estates are particularly ugly and will soon reach Freeburgh. The Save Bright group have admitted recently that they are not against housing and flats and a particularly ugly building - the bright brewery - they are only anti multi national companies/ franchises.

The funny thing is that the IGA who are against Coles for all the obvious reasons are also a MULTI NATIONAL . The town has three multi national servos which were built before some of the extreme radicals involved in Save Bright were born. Obviously they cant run them out of town even though I’m sure they would love to.

There is a new Subway - a franchise as you know - the owner is just a decent local man trying to make a decent honest living and he is being vilified and ostracised.

The bottom line is that Coles will be an aesthetically pleasing small building which will benefit the town enormously and employ eighty five locals . Some of the protesers are acid rockers living in Brunswick - they dont care about “Bright” at all - but they do care about multi natinationals and thats what this bun fight is all about - that and other greedy shop owners fighting to stop another food shop from opening in town.

Bright needs another supermarket but the ‘hippies’ who oppose Coles and the IGA are a law unto themselves and have decided in their drug induced wisdom to prevent Coles from opening here - never mind that the IGA has had a monopoly for decades and has ripped everyone off with outlandish prices for food and essentials.

There is no healthy competition and peope try and shop in Myrtleford and Mount Beauty where prices are realistic. Bright wont change one iota if Coles opens - the majority of locals want Coles and so do the tourists.

The Save Bright group is made up of the usual professional protesters , the unemployed /and / those who are ruthless and greedy ie existing shop owners.

Even the mayor is anti Coles and this is a gross conflict of interest. So as you can see Daryl - there is more to this sorry saga than the public realise. There is always ‘another’ side.

Daryl,

Sorry to get you embroiled in this but that last post above is just from Ray Dixon.

He uses aliases on his blog as well - checking the ip address may clarify this.

No Daryl - that post above is from myself and not from Ray Dixon. Check my ISP as suggested by “NICK” and you will see that I am NOT Ray Dixon. I think you should mind your own business who ever you are !! does the truth hurt ? Save Bright will stoop as low as posssible to stop anyone from daring to tell it like it is.

Daryl - The 2000 ‘objections’ Nick speaks about are highly suspect. And no I am not Ray Dixon.

Those 2000 objections to Coles being built are not accurate. The town only has 2500 residents.

Save Bright collected ‘protest votes’ which were placed around the town - namely the IGA - and they were shoved under tourists noses forcing them to sign - tourists sign anything as we all know.

Most of those ‘objections’ are false. Save Bright is not what it seems. A small group who will stop at nothing to prevent a supermarket from opening.

I’m sure Daryl will check my ISP for you ‘Nick’ in spite of your dire warnings and paranoia - I am not R.Dixon. Sorry to disappoint you.

I have not as yet come across one tourist who objects to Coles in Bright and I have not spoken to one local who objects either.
Enjoy your time in Bright Daryl - and maybe we will see you in Coles one of these days - cheers.

I don’t think Daryl wants the debate shifted to his site Nick (or is that Bill, your usual alias?) and no, the B. Patterson post is not me. You shouldn’t make false accusations like that, Nick Malkin, and why not give your full name?. By the way, 11 years is long enough to know what I’m talking about. My apologies to Daryl for this intrusion.

I would like to comment on the above by Nick Malkin.

Nick Malkin posts on Alpine Opinion constantly under many many aliases. Too many to mention in fact. Thank you for your time and enjoy Bright - it is a lovely town but lovely towns can sometimes have a darker side too.

Happy camping in the Ovens & Kiewa valleys. And please check my IP address before Nick Malkin insists you do. Cheers.