Hargreaves Mall could soon be welcoming traffic again as part of an ambitious strategy to revitalise the precinct.
Greater Bendigo council has released a City Centre Action Plan outlining the move, which will be debated at a scheduled meeting of elected members next week.
It involves repaving the shopping strip to create a one-way, low-speed road and parking spaces, with traffic entering at the bus-shelter end and travelling eastward toward the roundabout.
According to council’s CEO Andrew Cooney, opening pedestrian malls to cars has proven successful in other regional cities.
“In our area, Shepparton has done it, Ballarat has done it… and we’ve had feedback from both of those councils and trader groups that it has brought people back,” Mr Cooney said on the Wake Up Call.
“It’s been a really good sign of confidence to retail and hospitality… and we’d love to see that happen [in Bendigo].
“This isn’t the only thing that we’re going to do – this won’t be the only thing that… fixes and breathes life back into the city, but we think this is a really key step forward and… a key part of investment for Council.”
Hargreaves Mall – situated between Mitchell and Williamson St in Bendigo’s CBD – first appeared after a section of the existing Hargreaves St was closed to traffic and redeveloped in 1982.
It was modified again as part of a significant revamp during the 2000s into the precinct we know today.
In more recent years, the Mall has seen a significant reduction in pedestrian activity owing to several retailers departing – including Officeworks – and concerns around crime.
Attempts have been made by council to increase that foot traffic, but Mr Cooney admits not all of their efforts were successful.
“We’ve made it a safer place, a cleaner place, we’ve brought back events into that space, and those things have been welcomed; but we really do want to reinvigorate the City Centre of Bendigo – we really do want to bring retail and hospitality back into that hub,” he told the Wake Up Call.
“We’ve done a lot of research and… importantly spoken to the businesses that are already there, [and] the businesses that we’d love to see there, and the key part of the feedback we get is bringing a level of traffic and a level of parking back into the Mall… will really help.”
As for the cost to ratepayers, Mr Cooney estimates the project will set council back $500,000.
The City Centre Action Plan is set to be voted on at the City of Greater Bendigo’s monthly meeting on Monday, May 18th.
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