Page 628 - Week 02 - Thursday, 18 February 2016
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video
Our shopping centres are great little hubs of community activity, each with their own character. In Gungahlin, for example, I have enjoyed watching some of our newer suburbs, such as Crace, develop into great suburbs that residents are immensely proud to live in. This is largely due to the investment people are making in their local shops. For example, at Crace, Coffee Guru, the Drawing Room and the District are bringing people from far and wide. In our older, more established suburbs the revitalisation of existing infrastructure and landscaping is getting people excited to shop and invest in our local centres
As I said earlier this week, I would like to see further collaboration with local business owners and the possibility of co-funding improvements for shopping centre investment to get even more bang for our buck. Together we can make our shopping centre upgrades respond to community feedback and make our suburbs shine.
MADAM SPEAKER: A supplementary question, Ms Porter.
MS PORTER: Minister, what has been the reaction of local residents and business owners to the planned upgrades? How did the ACT government consult with them, and what changes were made as a result?
MS FITZHARRIS: I thank Ms Porter for her supplementary. As many in this place know, our local shopping centres are ever-changing places. Some see local businesses coming and going over the years while others have a relatively stable group of operators over an extended period. This is why it is important that we understand the nature of each shopping centre and the demands and requirements of the local operators and customers when considering an upgrade.
It is equally important to understand the needs of the broader community as well. A great example of this would be the Cook shops in Belconnen when the initial plans were prepared some years ago, when activity at the shops was very low. In between the time of the initial planning and the detailed design phase the cafe Little Oink opened. It quickly began to thrive, so much so that the operator is now taking over an adjacent vacant shop to open a bar and restaurant. It was at this stage, during the final consultation with the owner, that it was identified that the design needed to be changed to accommodate her future plans for an outdoor dining space.
Can I say that when I met with the owner, Natalie, a couple of weeks ago I was really impressed with what she has done as a local business operator. She has a great vision and passion for her local shops and it is clear that she has a fantastic local business that her community loves.
This is a great example of the government’s ability to react and adapt its plans and to respond to the local community needs and private sector investment. In doing so, the adjacent traders at the Cook shops, including a barber shop, an IGA and a jewellery designer, will benefit from an upgraded public realm with new street trees and outdoor seating for their clients to enjoy adjacent to their shops.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Speeches . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . . Video