On Wednesday Orana Mall’s owners Comet (Aust) Pty Ltd, a part of the Bachrach Group, lodged a development application with Dubbo City Council to make an expansion of the current shopping centre.

The expansion, which is expected to cost more than $20 million, would include an additional 3600 square metres of leasable shop space and 160 extra car parks.

When the Daily Liberal asked shoppers at the mall what shops they’d like to see in Dubbo, ALDI was a must.

“ALDI must come here,” Pieter Bosman said.

“We’d save money on groceries and get a lot of cheap stuff.”

“An ALDI would be good as there is much more variety and it’s much cheaper,” Karina Watts said.

Edward Trigger said an ALDI in Dubbo would stop him from having to travel to other towns.

“We are always travelling to Orange and Mudgee,” he said.

Sheila Nelson believes other competitors may be forced to lower their prices if ALDI was to be built here.

“We need cheaper groceries and more competition,” she said.

According to Renae Nelson the current shops on offer at Orana Mall just don’t cut it.

“If we had K-Mart it would give us a bit more variety than Big W,” she said.

“I prefer my local shops on Tamworth Street.”

With six weeks until Christmas it seems many shoppers have presents on their minds.

“I’d like more interesting gift shops,” Marie Richardson said.

Ngaire Harding agreed there is not much selection when it comes to buying for others.

“It can be difficult for presents,” she said.

More reasonably priced clothes stores for both adults and children would be well received.

“We need more dress shops in the mid-price range,” Maureen Willis.

“My mum came here the other day and couldn’t find a decent shirt.”

Trish Scott said the lack of kids clothes stores was a hot topic at playground this week.

“About 20 of us agreed that we need a Cotton on Kids store,” she said.

“People I know are always going online or they travel to Canberra and Sydney to get cheap and good quality kids clothes.”