Sales registers will be joining the Christmas chorus and local businesses can expect a much welcomed shot of retail therapy with the opening of the new $100 million Myer store.
Tasmania is now open for business with a renewed sense of optimism about the future, and there is no better demonstration of this than the reopening of Myer after eight long years.
After seven years of inaction following the devastating fire that destroyed the Myer store in 2007, we acted within the first 100 days of this Government to get the project off the ground.
The Tasmanian Government is proud to have helped with a $15 million commercial loan to the Kalis group made through the Tasmanian Development Board.
Our number one priority is jobs and since the election 6,800 jobs have been created and more people are in work than at any other time in Tasmania’s history,
Add to this the record high retail turnover, the boom in our tourism and hospitality sector and our construction sector going from strength to strength it’s no wonder businesses are confident.
Today marks the return of the missing piece of Hobart CBD’s heart.
Stage one of the new Myer store on Liverpool Street returns this section of the City to its former glory.
Hurdle after hurdle has been overcome by those closely involved in this project and they can today be proud of what they have achieved with the opening of a great signature store.
Many people have made this possible and I want to congratulate and thank the Kalis Group, Hutchison Builders and the many other Tasmanian sub-contractors who have contributed to this project.
I also want to thank the team behind Myer, including the more than 200 team members who have been working around the clock to ensure its opening success.
I look forward to completion of the next stage in Murray Street which will generate more investment and create further jobs.