Vacant spaces and shopfronts have become a feature of Campbelltown’s Queen Street as it has continued to decline over the past 20 years.
The future of the town’s main street was a hot topic of conversation at last night’s public forum of ideas.
Campbelltown Council says it is about to employ a new initiative to help Queen Street come back to life.
As part of the project, it will encourage creative start-ups and entrepreneurs to trial their businesses in a commercial setting in Queen Street.
Council has partnered with renowned social enterprise Renew Australia to launch Renew On Q, an initiative to help rejuvenate areas of Queen Street with high rates of commercial vacancy.
“Renew On Q is an opportunity for people looking to take the next step in moving their creative business out of the home and into a shopfront, while supporting existing businesses by drawing people into the area for events, workshops and other activities,” Mayor George Greiss said.
“Renew Australia have a fantastic track record working with other councils to rejuvenate commercial centres so we’re excited to be partnering with them to launch Renew On Q in Campbelltown.”
As part of the program a local project manager will work with property owners and business owners to make spaces along Queen Street available to people on a rent-free basis via a 30-day rolling licence and offered to a business that complements, not competes, with existing businesses in the area.
Expressions of interest for small businesses and creatives will open in September.
“We are really looking forward to working with the Campbelltown community,” Renew Australia CEO Angela Simons said.
“Renew on Q will create new reasons for people to visit and spend time on Queen Street. Our team welcome property owners or agents interested in participating to get in touch to find out more.’’
Anyone who currently manages a vacant or underutilised space within the Queen Street precinct interested in the program can contact space@renewaustralia.org.
I don’t know of any Main St that has been revived without complete change to reflect its position in the current community and it is definitely not as a destination shopping.
Years ago I was active in fighting the proposal to mall Queen St and even then the planner said the future of the street was in high rise housing with retail to service this population.
Most of the buildings on Queen are well past the use by date so with proper incentives developers can be encouraged to provide housing close to the railway.