Share Your Vision for Your Local Shopping Precinct

Media Release Friday, 28 February 2014

Share your vision for your local shopping precinct

Moonee Valley City Council is asking residents to tell us what’s great about their local shopping precinct as we look to share ideas on how these areas can become even more vibrant and enticing destinations.

With a grant from the Victorian Government, Council is running a unique program for business and customers to share their vision for our local shopping precincts and find cooperative ways of achieving it.

Mayor of Moonee Valley, Cr Jan Chantry said local shopping precincts are the heart of the community and it’s important they continue to thrive and support local business.

“They’re employment hubs, small business incubators and places for the community to enjoy. We’re really excited to hear the great ideas business owners and customers have,” Cr Chantry said.

There will be two parts to the Streetlife Program – an ideas sharing activity and a series of workshops.

“From the week commencing 17 March, blackboards will be set up in prominent places in four of our shopping precincts in Ascot Vale, Flemington, Moonee Ponds and Niddrie. The community will be encouraged to share their ideas and comment on what they love about the precinct, what makes the street special and suggest any ways they think will improve the precincts,” Cr Chantry said.

The blackboards will remain in place for two weeks with comments and contributions placed on the them collected and collated at the end of each day. Then during April, four workshop events will be facilitated by place maker and social innovator David Engwicht. Portfolio holder for Economic Development, Cr Cam Nation said the workshops will build on ideas collected from the blackboards to inspire and encourage local business and community to look at creative ways to make positive changes in retail centres.

“David is very inspirational and will share ideas on how to make businesses and precincts more successful by understanding customers’ changing expectations.”

“The workshops should deliver some practical steps local businesses can take to strengthen our shopping precincts’ connections with the local community,” Cr Nation said.

The workshops will begin at the blackboard locations in each precinct and will tour the local sites. Businesses, traders and the community are invited to come down and join in the interactive workshops and learn how to tap into what customers want.

The dates and times for the workshops are:

Ascot Vale (Union Road) 9 April 2014 10am-11.30am

Flemington (Racecourse Road) 9 April 2014 1.30pm-3.00pm

Moonee Ponds (Puckle Street) 10 April 2014 10am-11.30am

Niddrie (Keilor Road) 10 April 2014 1.30pm-3.00pm

Media enquiries: Alana Stevens, Acting Media and Communications Team Leader Mobile: 0408 570 106; Email: [email protected]

mvcc.vic.gov.au | 9243 8888 9 Kellaway Ave – PO Box 126 Moonee Ponds VIC 3039

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