I READ with interest the projections of growth for our city and question the accuracy of past as well as future growth.
I wonder where our councillors obtain their information and, at a time when it is abundantly clear that online shopping is taking over from retail shopping, this council continues to encourage more and more retail outlets.
I would be happy to take a walk with our councillors through Langtree Mall as I did last Friday about 1pm on a mild day in school holidays when one could have shot a cannon down the mall and only disturbed the people who were in the food outlets/restaurants.
My husband and I were shocked at the number of empty shops – including those displaying goods from other retailers to make the shop look better and the mall less empty.
The mall – how can the cost of the alleged upgrade be accounted for?
I realise council is now going to receive government funding to supply the shade areas but shouldn’t that have been costed in so the shade was available in the summer months?
The mall is a most unattractive place, colourless, bland and unwelcoming and already the “concrete blocks” are dirty with spillage, chewing gum and other detritus.
I feel for the retailers who are doing their best in difficult times to keep their doors open, carry stock and provide service to the community who still shop there.
I don’t wish to talk the CBD down as I believe it has a mountain of problems to solve in order to encourage shoppers to make it their main shopping focus and I wish the retailers the best of luck.
I hear people say – “just wait til Big W opens, that will take a lot of business away from the CBD and outlying towns like Merbein, Red Cliffs and Ouyen”, and there is a lot more development planned between Deakin Avenue and Irymple.
How can all these shops be sustained?
We each have a certain amount to spend and if we spend it in Fifteenth Street, we can’t spend it in the mall or anywhere else.
I sincerely hope that there is enough to go round to everyone so that all benefit and not just the big business and corporate world.
Employment is a buzzword and there will be increased employment during building but look at how the big supermarkets and outlets work with the customer being encouraged to complete their own “check out” with only a couple of checkouts available if you do not wish to use this facility.
Now to the riverfront.
Private investors were prepared to risk their own money to “link the city to the riverfront” as was quoted by our Mayor when he referred to the potential funding which might be coming to Mildura and that funding is from the government, that is your taxes and mine.
There will be no casino but a smaller development by far using taxpayers’ money when private money was available.
Is bigger better and will the provision of more retail outlets enhance the city’s retailers and customers lives or will more shops become empty across the retail sector?
Eileen Pica,
Mildura.
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