Bunbury’s Central Business District is the focus of the latest project by the Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
WA Labor promised to fund a 12-month project to kickstart the activation of the CBD at the 2017 state election, which has led to the launch of the Bunbury Central Steering Committee.
The committee has a mix of stakeholders, including the chamber, City of Bunbury, Retail Co, Commercial Realty and Go Geo.
Bunbury Geographe Chamber of Commerce chief executive officer Mark Seaward said there had been a lot of planning on the strategy before the Bunbury Central team was launched.
“The program is not just about building a website and hoping people will come, but it’s about bringing more people into the CBD and it’s about bringing more businesses into the CBD,” he said.
While the initiative has been in the works for some time, the announcement comes after the Bunbury Mail launched its Save our Empty Shops series which has looked at the challenges of Bunbury’s changing economy.
Mr Seaward said the committee want to promote the CBD as a unique experience, a place where people can shop, buy a coffee, get lunch and/or catch a movie.
“It’s about making sure that for whatever reason you come into the CBD you do something else while you are here as well,” he said.
In a few months time, there will be a website designed to promote the CBD.
However, Mr Seaward said it goes hand-in-hand with promoting the region.
“There is a good tie-in with the Bunbury Geographe marketing as well, if you want to know what’s happening in the region you look at their website but if you want to know what’s happening in Bunbury you’ll come to our new website.
“As a region, we’re very late in doing something like this.
“A lot of places have already done this, so we need to learn the lessons of other places, see what works for us, and do something that is uniquely Bunbury to reactivate the CBD.”
Go Geo general manager and committee chair Emma Nesbitt said the project was about getting the right people at the table to have a more collaborative approach.
The next step is to employ a part-time coordinator as well as setting out a three year activity plan.
Have your say, what would you like to see in the CBD? email editor.bunburymail@fairfaxmedia.com.au
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