Home Consortium purchased the site in a $725 million 61-store portfolio acquisition and this week advised “it is not yet ready to announce details of its plan for the Taree site” and flagged mid-November for the “release of details of its plans for the portfolio”, according to spokesperson John Frey.

This week Mr Frey acted to respond to community speculation that Spotlight Taree would relocate its Victoria Street store to the Masters site.

“False alarm! Spotlight are not relocating that particular store to the home centre,” Mr Frey said.

The absence of information in the wake of the ongoing fire sale of stock has fuelled community speculation about what business could or should be established in the open format space. Rumours nurtured on social media platforms had JB Hi-Fi - one of Australia’s largest retailers of electronics and entertainment goods - in the mix as a contender for the space. This week JB Hi-Fi operation director Peter Green acted to end speculation and stated “there is no development in the Taree district that has been presented or is under current consideration.”

The Manning River Times Facebook page elicited widespread support for Kmart to set up shop. A spokesperson for Kmart advised “... nothing is confirmed in regards to opening at the Taree site at this stage, we will advise the community if this changes.”

Fairfax Media also reported that American discount giant Costco could set up shop in Taree but Costco Australia managing director Patrick Noone said,  “we’re always interested in new sites but right now it's pretty confusing so I don't know how it's going to work out.” 

As the final trading day of December 11 looms on the horizon, many Manning Valley residents have expressed concern about the future employment prospects of Masters staff and the urgent need to bring business to the region to create jobs.

Unemployment in the Manning Valley is almost twice the national rate and increasing, according to the June economic update report of Manning Valley Business Chamber. 

At that time the national rate of 5.7 per cent contrasted to the 10.2 per cent unemployment rate for the region - an increase of 1.7 per cent in 12 months.

Stephen Blanch declared on Facebook that he didn’t care what business opened its doors at the site and stressed “creating jobs is the No 1 priority” and Marie Rohr added “Whatever? JOBS, JOBS, JOBS!”

Ben Hosking gave voice to community fears with the prediction that “it'll sit fallow for years, an eyesore and sorry reminder of a monumental corporate folly...” and Arthur Chapman offered it up as an alternative location for a transport hub. 

However Ivy Lane decided to give voice to a need for young people and called for a “massive indoor skate park – 24 hours to give the young guns something to do” 

Numerous people championed the idea of a large indoor sports centre in Taree. It would mean “basketball, netball, cricket, hockey etc. could be played all year round in any weather”, said Kamini Thomas and John and Bec Parsons added that “Futsal is in great need of a bigger facility in Taree now … unfortunately our indoor sporting bodies are outgrowing the fantastic Saxby Stadium.”