Call to restore glory of central city strips

Andrew Mathieson
Geelong business figures have called for a dramatic shift in thinking to draw shoppers back to the city centre.
A city centre property agent wants landlords around Moorabool and Ryrie streets to attract more boutique and “arty” retailers surrounded by drawcards such as a butterfly enclosure, pseudo museums or “something that’s familiar to Geelong”.
A outspoken retailer wants cheaper shopfront rents and council to consider relaxing parking fines and free short-term parking.
The men launched their calls amid shrinking strip-shopping occupancies in central Geelong as retailers move toward shopping centres.
Maxwell Collins commercial property manager Don Hough said Moorabool Street, traditionally the heart of Geelong, had too many vacant shopfronts.
Mr Hough said it was time to “think outside the square” to attract visitors on top of traditional attractions such as Geelong’s National Wool Museum, Ford Discovery Centre or Geelong Football Club.
“We need something that is a bit unique that people will come to view as well as stay to do some retail shopping,” he said.
Mr Hough suggested the butterfly enclosure as an example of a free crowd-puller for central Geelong.
He also backed a City of Greater Geelong plan to prompt owners into converting empty buildings into shop-top living.
The Independent revealed earlier this year that the shop-top plan was part of a Central Geelong Urban Living program to lure more residents into the city and to improve public safety.
Mr Hough said the plan “absolutely” had merit.
“The thing about this, though, is that you would need a massive commitment from the shop owners.”
Geelong Retail Traders Association president Hayden Spurling said cheaper city rents would address the growing number of empty shopfronts.
He said the vacancies were an eyesore, filled with dirty windows and overflowing mail.
“I think rents are always a problem but particularly in these hard economic times when there are a lot of alternatives in the suburbs,” he said.
Mr Spurling, a former City of Geelong mayor, said council should consider a moratorium on further retail development.
He also wanted the City to ease its parking rules and enforcement, which he blamed for driving shoppers away from central Geelong.
The Independent recently reported that the City earned $4.8 million in on-street parking fees and $2.8 million from fines a year.
Mr Spurling said the City employed some “very enthusiastic” parking inspectors who harassed and bullied shoppers.
“What’s happened is that those shopping in the city have been discriminated against – the dollars they pay parking are going into general revenue,” he said.