And, says Port Macquarie Chamber of Commerce president Haydn Oriti, the city’s central business district is big enough to accommodate Kmart’s impending opening.

While acknowledging there is the potential for centres like Kmart to draw retail custom away from the CBD, he believes there are some ‘very strong retail businesses in the CBD’.

“They will be aware of the need to be offering something different to the competition,” Mr Oriti said.

“Certainly the chamber is focused on the viability of the CBD, which is the core of its identity to Port Macquarie. We will continue to maintain and improve its vitality and viability.”

Mr Oriti said that while business will need to deal with the competition (of Kmart’s opening) it also has the potential to pull people in from further afield.

“It may also mean that people stop travelling to Forster or Newcastle to Kmart and remain in town and spend their dollars locally.

“Who knows, the initial shock may be more for Settlement City than the CBD,” he said. “The CBD is offering (customers) just a little bit different opportunities to Settlement City.

Seasalt Cafe & Restaurant owners Martin and Cassandra Clark have watched the progress of the Kmart build from the ground up.

Mr Clark said he’d had a number of conversations about the possible impact Kmart could have on his business over the last six months.

“What I would say is that the Kmart opening has really revitalised this side of town. It has certainly given this part (around the marina) a different dimension,” he said.

“You would hope that with Kmart’s introduction that all businesses within Port Macquarie will benefit from this build.

“We should see more people in town.”

Clarence Street business operator Sheena Prince from Beeline Toys says Port Macquarie would thrive with more variety in its stores.

“What you get from the big department stores is very much same, same,” she said.

“Port needs more variety in its stores. We know that locals and visitors really enjoy our store because we offer a unique shopping experience.

“We concentrate on ethically-made toys, that are quality built and safe for children and made from sustainable products.

“Holidaymakers, in particular, always comment to us that they wish there was a store like ours in their home town.

“That, to me, is to key to success for Port Macquarie shopping: offering something different.”

Mrs Prince said one example of how Port Macquarie could provide a unique experience was the development of the former Food for Less site.

“What we really need is for that eyesore on the foreshore to be developed and offering a boutique shopping experience. It’s the perfect location … it would create plenty of through traffic for visitors and locals.”