ALTHOUGH the Bridge Mall is opening to traffic, City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said that\u2019s not \u201cgoing to solve\u201d all problems for the polarising shopping strip.<\/p>\n
Part of the Mall\u2019s $15 million funding allocation will include $400,000 for shopfront and fa\u00e7ade restoration.<\/p>\n
\u201cMany of the buildings throughout the Bridge Mall are beautiful and old,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf traders come to us with an idea to rejuvenate their heritage buildings, repaint or up-light them, we will match the funding from traders themselves, dollar-for-dollar, up to $10,000.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis will bring to life a lot of the old buildings here. It\u2019s not just about the flow of traffic, but to give people a whole range of different reasons to come down here to eat, to drink, to shop, and just have fun.\u201d<\/p>\n
Homewares store, Wen and Ware has been in the Bridge Mall for almost 20 years and owner, Wendy McLachlan has plans to make some cosmetic changes.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the funding available, as landowners, we can do up our shops in heritage colours which will look lovely,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI own the older building next to Wen and Ware and I\u2019m looking at doing heritage painting and up-lighting to accentuate it. It could be wonderful.<\/p>\n
\u201cDuring the day, the Mall is a beautiful, busy space outside with the trees. It\u2019s a very exciting time here, with this initiative… so we can invest in our buildings for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
The City of Ballarat hope the grants will \u201cbe a carrot\u201d to encourage the non-compulsory improvements.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ALTHOUGH the Bridge Mall is opening to traffic, City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said that\u2019s not \u201cgoing to solve\u201d all problems for the polarising shopping strip. Part of the Mall\u2019s $15 million funding allocation will include $400,000 for shopfront and fa\u00e7ade restoration. \u201cMany of the buildings throughout the Bridge Mall are beautiful and […]<\/p>\n