MCU14/0106 & OPW15/0001 Compiled Information Request Response

                                                                                   MCU14/0106



Issue – Vacancy Rates
The Retail Needs Assessment suggests reasonable overall vacancy rates for the centres
network within the identified trade areas but does not adequately assess the proposed
introduction of a large quantum of new floor space.

Information Required
12     Provide an expanded analysis of the vacancies across the centres network outlined
       in Table 4.1 of the Retail Needs Assessment. The analysis should include number
       of vacancies, total vacant floor space, tenancy type/use(s), mean and median
       vacancy size, and lease rates.

Issue – Centres Analysis
The Retail Needs Assessment does not consider the extent to which the expansion of the
Noosa Civic might impact on other MRACs and the Maroochydore PRAC. Vacancies can
provide an indication of centre performance and need for any additional floor space.

Information Required
13     Provide a summary analysis of vacancies within the Maroochydore PRAC and
       Nambour MRAC and provide commentary on potential causes of any persistent
       vacancies.

Issue – Noosaville Intercept Survey Methodology
The location for the Noosaville surveys along Gympie Terrace would be more likely to over-
sample visitors, because residents accessing facilities within the Noosa Homemaker Centre
and Noosa Village Shopping Centre would be largely excluded. A more appropriate
approach might have been to conduct intercept surveys at both Gympie Terrace and in the
immediate vicinity of Noosa Village Shopping Centre.

Information Required
14     Clarify to what extent the location at which intercept surveys were conducted for
       Noosaville may have skewed the proportion of non-resident respondents and what
       measures were undertaken to reduce the risk of a skewed response towards non-
       residents within the Noosaville survey sample.

Issue – Intercept Surveys
The intercept surveys do not provide any new survey of Noosa Civic shoppers or intercept
surveys from Maroochydore PRAC. Updated intercept surveys of Noosa Civic would allow
direct comparison with the surveys of the four other centre localities. It is possible the 2012
customer surveys of Noosa Civic might provide similar insights but the presentation of these
results does not allow meaningful comparison.

Information Required
15     Interrogate the findings of the 2012 customer survey of Noosa Civic and, if available,
       provide the following information:
       (a)     Proportion of respondents from each of the identified trade areas versus
               non-resident respondents.
       (b)     The main reasons for attending Noosa Civic.

Issue – Transaction Data
The Retail Needs Assessment utilises EFTPOS transaction data source from Quantium.
Such data should be used with a degree of caution, given cash remains a significant
method of payment across a number of retail categories.




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