This Saturday, from 8am on December 14, Riverstone businesses are heading to the Elara estate for the inaugural Riverstone Marketplace. This new event gives Riverstone the opportunity to show it’s new neighbours what’s on offer every day of the week in a town just 5km away.

The Marketplace will provide a range of goods, from an Indian supermarket, fresh meat and vegetables to services like financial and legal advice. 

The idea of taking Riverstone on the road began with the need to help struggling retailers in the town centre. 

The Riverstone, Schofields and Districts Chamber of Commerce and Industry is concerned that despite having thousands of people moving in all around Riverstone our local shops are struggling while at the same time, estates like Elara can’t even buy a loaf of bread. Riverstone is the closest shopping village for the residents of Elara but they avoid the town because of the traffic. President Sue Lawrence thought, ‘if they won’t come to us, why don’t we go to them?’

The Chamber approached property developers Stockland about the idea and the response was enthusiastic. 

Stockland immediately saw the benefit to Elara residents and has worked closely with the Chamber to develop the idea, culminating in this weekend’s Riverstone Marketplace @ Elara.

There are over 7000 residents in the estate and in addition to the residents, New Home World is also attracting thousands more every weekend. Construction is yet to begin on the proposed shopping centre for Elara so having a portable shopping centre is expected to be embraced by the burgeoning new community.

New residential developments in the area are outpacing necessary infrastructure and the residents of both Riverstone and Elara are suffering the consequences. Riverstone has been ignored by successive Governments failure address traffic issues has created a disincentive for new residents to the local shops while residents of estates like Elara are isolated from basic goods and services.

Chamber members are encouraged to take advantage of this opportunity and stall space is still available. The Chamber will also have a stall to promote Riverstone businesses.

Having the Riverstone Marketplace held every Saturday morning means our businesses get a fantastic opportunity to sell to a captive audience while at the same time providing a solution to a genuine need for the residents of Elara. Everybody wins.

The Riverstone Marketplace will be held each Saturday outside the Elara Sales office on the corner of Elara Blvd and Watkin Cres.

This is genuinely not an opportunity not to be missed.