Page 1191 - Week 04 - Wednesday, 20 March 2013
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MR WALL (Brindabella) (6.32): I thank Mrs Jones for bringing this important motion to the Assembly today, as local shopping centres are an important part of our community. They are frequented by many in Canberra, as they are a place to meet with family or friends, for a meal, where you may find local health services or simply a convenient place to grab some bread and milk on the way home from work.
Many of our suburban shopping centres are showing their age. They have not received the maintenance or the investment that is required to maintain the visual appeal, cleanliness or ease of access that these centres once offered. The decline is in part due to a poor approach to planning, a lack of maintenance of footpaths and parking facilities and the government’s preferred model to pick winners in the ACT grocery sector. These factors have led to a shift in the shopping habits of many Canberrans.
Despite the trending shift away from the traditional grocery store, newsagency and bakery at suburban centres, not all is lost. Many of the centres in my electorate are experiencing a revitalisation. New businesses are opening and attracting a new clientele to our suburbs. However, this shift is not without its challenges. These suburban centres are becoming hives of activity and parking issues continue to be a challenge.
Recently I spoke with shopkeepers at the Carleton Street shops in Kambah. This centre is a classic example of how these centres are evolving. There is now a boutique home wares and cafe, a hairdresser, a takeaway, a beauty salon, a dance studio and a second-hand clothing store. However, car parking space is one of the challenges that all shops in the centre are struggling to deal with due to the nature of their businesses. Their customers come and stay for longer periods, meaning that there is not a high turnover of car parking spaces, nor are there any reserved disabled parking spaces for some of the mobility challenged people that live in the community. As someone who has run a small business, I understand the frustration that these shopkeepers are experiencing as they watch prospective customers simply drive away because there are insufficient parking spaces.
Another example of this can be found at the Banks shops. Here you will find an IGA, a Chinese restaurant, a hairdresser and a takeaway. Parking has been a long-running issue here, with the number of spaces available barely meeting the needs of the staff employed there, let alone enough to provide for the customers. Previously the vacant block adjoining the shops had been used for staff parking and overflow customer space. However, the adjoining site is now listed for sale and there is a great deal of uncertainty over how parking will be managed in the future to ensure these businesses remain viable because its future use is unknown.
I am aware of instances where owners of suburban shops have made arrangements with surrounding residents to allow their customers to park on their property. This practice will grow in popularity if proper investment is not made to ensure adequate facilities are available to service the needs of our community.
Whilst parking is a major issue when it comes to local shopping centres, the general look and feel of the centre and its surrounds play a big part. A centre that has a nice feel and aesthetic, is clean, has level pavement, offers seating and is well lit will attract people to the area. The opposite, though, is also true. A poorly maintained centre will deter people.
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