For seven long years the Giralang shops have stood empty and derelict.
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But a prolonged and bitter stoush about the shopping strip in the Belconnen suburb is far from over, with the Legislative Assembly resolving yesterday to launch a fresh inquiry into supermarket competition policy in the ACT, and how it affects the Giralang shops.
It follows revelations on Wednesday that the owners of the nearby Kaleen and Evatt IGA supermarkets, as well as the Kaleen shops owner and a group called ''Combined Residents' Association Inc'', have launched legal action in the Supreme Court over the shops.
At the directions hearing, due on Tuesday, the plaintiffs will claim Planning Minister Simon Corbell's decision last month to end years of uncertainty and call in planning responsibility for the shops breached the Territory Plan.
Kaleen IGA co-owner Chris Heridemos threatened the case would be ''long and very expensive'' for taxpayers, and said it could all be avoided if Mr Corbell would reverse his decision.
Mr Corbell approved a 1500sqm supermarket, which falls within the Government's definition of a ''convenience/local supermarket'' under its supermarket competition policy.
But opponents say the 1500sqm floor plan is the ''selling space'' only, and does not take loading bays, parking, storage and other adjunct areas into account. They say these would bring the total floor area of the business to more than 2500sqm.
But the court action is not supported by the Giralang Residents Action Group, which has a mailing list of 200 households and says locals have waited long enough for new shops in the area.
Spokesman Ross Calvert said, ''Competition's clearly an issue.
''But sometimes these inquiries don't take the process any further when everyone already knows the answer. The answer as far as Giralang residents are concerned is they want some shops and not a bomb site. The minister's taken the only sensible action.''
The inquiry, launched by the Canberra Liberals, will consider the suitability of the Giralang shops size - even though it is before the courts - although it will not consider the call-in.
More broadly, it will also review the ACT Supermarket Competition Policy and its application.
But the Combined Residents' Association, which also claims to speak for the Giralang residents, has joined the Kaleen and Evatt IGAs in the Supreme Court claim.
Chairman Tony Centi said if the large supermarket was allowed to go ahead at Giralang it would threaten competition across Canberra.
A spokeswoman for Mr Corbell said it would be inappropriate for the minister to comment on the specifics of the decision as the matter was now before the Supreme Court.