8000 want Medicare at Belmont Forum

by Samantha Shafran

April 3, 2008

BELMONT FORUM shopping centre is one step closer to having a Medicare office after a petition gained enough signatures to be taken to the federal government.

A minimum 5000 signatures were needed, and over 8000 have been obtained from supporters.

Jill Goodwin, marketing manager of the shopping centre, said a Medicare office was well overdue, being the most asked-after store that the centre was missing. She said the signatures had been counted on April 2.

Mayor Glenys Godfrey supports the idea of establishing a Medicare office in Belmont.

“This would be a great bonus for the people of Belmont and nearby areas,” she said. “Recent demographic studies of our community demonstrate that a service such as this would be beneficial to local residents.

“The City of Belmont is very keen to see a Medicare office established as soon as possible and [we] welcome the progress of this great initiative.”

Kylie Lynch, of Maida Vale, works at the mall, and has experienced public reaction firsthand.

“The feeling I have from it is that people here would love to have a Medicare office,” she said. “If we have a Medicare office here, people will be spending their money here too, and it’s great business for everyone.”

Mrs Lynch said customers are forced to visit the Cannington Medicare office at carousel shops, and end up spending all their money there instead of locally.