The Shire of Dundas owns the local IGA in Norseman. (ABC Goldfields: Andrew Chounding)
In short:
Locals in the WA Goldfields town of Norseman say the shire-owned IGA store is failing the community.
Complaints have been raised over the empty shelves and poor quality of produce.
What's next?
The Dundas shire president says Norseman IGA faces unique challenges but is committed to maintaining high standards.
West Australian residents are criticising the management of their remote town's only grocery store amid concerns over the quality of produce and lack of stock.
In 2023, the Shire of Dundas outlaid about $1.7 million to buy the IGA store in Norseman, a historic gold mining town on the edge of the Nullarbor Plain with a population of about 500.
The investment included $265,000 for legal fees and minor building renovations.
Shire of Dundas CEO Peter Fitchat says the whole town benefits from the shire-owned store. (ABC Esperance: Hayden Smith)
In a 2022 media release, shire chief executive Peter Fitchat outlined how the supermarket would become "a cooperative business with all ratepayers essentially having a stake".
Shire president Laurene Bonza recently acknowledged there had been "challenges with stock availability", but stood by the quality of the store's produce.
"While feedback varies, the majority of our customers appreciate shopping locally," she said.
But residents have told the ABC they are getting nothing in return for the shire's investment.
Resident Bill Loneskie says the people of Norseman deserve better. (Supplied: Bill Loneskie)
'Downhill something chronic'
Bill Loneskie was once proud of his town's "clean and well-stocked" grocery store, but he said it had "gone downhill something chronic" over the past six months.
He said the store was regularly out of milk and bread, lacking in fresh vegetables, and the meat was often "discoloured and off".
Mr Loneskie's fellow ratepayers were front of mind when he raised his concerns at a recent council meeting.
Norseman has a median age of 52, well above the national figure of 38.
"There's a large population of older people who are unable to jump in the car and spend money going to Kalgoorlie or Esperance," Mr Loneskie told the ABC.
"They are relying on that IGA. They deserve better."
Empty shelves are among the locals' concerns. (Supplied)
Mr Loneskie and his wife now buy groceries in Kalgoorlie-Boulder, about 200 kilometres to the north.
Given the shire's investment in the store, he said ratepayers deserved a "return in services rendered".
In "the back of his mind" was Ravensthorpe, a farming town between Esperance and Albany, where the family-owned Food Works last month closed unexpectedly.
Mr Loneskie was worried that his community would also be left without a grocery store.
In Norseman, the IGA's perceived decline has seen tempers boil over.
Norseman is a small town often visited by Nullarbor travellers. (ABC News: Phil Hemingway)
Ban issued to customer
Last Thursday, Leah Moir was craving hotdogs for dinner.
But not for the first time, her meal plans were derailed by a lack of stock at the IGA.
The born-and-raised Norseman local was so fed up that she decided to take photos of the bare shelves.
She said a staff member asked her to stop taking photos, which resulted in a heated verbal confrontation between the pair.
Leah Moir has been banned from her town's grocery store for six months. (Supplied)
The next day, a local police officer entered Ms Moir's workplace and handed her a notice — signed by shire chief executive Mr Fitchat — which said she had been banned from visiting her local grocery store for at least six months.
While admitting to swearing at the staffer, Ms Moir, 55, said there had been no attempt from the shire to hear her version of events.
She believed the six-month ban was too harsh.
Leah Moir was born and raised in Norseman. (Supplied: Leah Moir)
"Any other business or workplace would contact the other person involved and try and get their side of the story, and maybe a mediation or something," she said.
The shire president defended the ban imposed by Mr Fitchat.
"This was not an isolated incident, and the decision was made based on ongoing concerns for staff safety and wellbeing," Cr Bonza said.
Ms Moir told the ABC she had never previously been directly approached by the shire about behavioural concerns.
Shire 'exploring options'
Cr Bonza said the shire was committed to maintaining high standards "across all areas" of the store's operation.
She said an in-store butcher ensured "quality control in meat products".
Cr Bonza said "critical breakdowns" in the freezer and fridge, as well as logistical challenges, had contributed to the recent stock shortage.
Shire of Dundas president Laurene Bonza says the Norseman IGA faces unique challenges. (ABC Goldfields: Jarrod Lucas)
"Our IGA operates under challenging circumstances — demand has increased significantly, and our supply chain is limited to a single truck travelling from Perth once a week," she said.
"We are actively exploring solutions, such as increasing deliveries to twice a week or investing in a larger truck, but these require additional staffing and budget planning."
Cr Bonza said the "Norseman IGA and post office remain viable" and that their financial reporting complied with local government requirements.
"While we are not required to publish a detailed profit and loss statement every month, we welcome concerned community members to visit us," she said.
Customers have complained about rotting fruit. (Supplied)
'We want good produce'
Other locals said they were looking at alternative options to get their groceries, including carpooling for a four-hour return trip to Esperance.
Ms Moir said she was looking into delivery services to Norseman from a major supermarket in Kalgoorlie.
"We're country people," she said.
"We just want good produce that we know is not going to go rotten in two days, or is not already blemished and going rotten when you purchase it."