RESULTS from a survey run by the City of Ballarat are in, and they say people want more outdoor dining options.<\/p>\n
The findings include a desire for hospitality venues to have more access to fixed and temporary street furniture.<\/p>\n
Launching the results of the survey inside The Forge\u2019s new marque on Armstrong Street, City of Ballarat CEO Evan King said increased outdoor dining options could take a number of forms.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re looking at all opportunities whether that\u2019s parking spaces, laneways, whatever we can do to help increase business\u2019 footprint,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith the restrictions on numbers allowed indoors, somehow we\u2019ve got to try and find extra space for businesses to be able to operate profitably.<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously we have to balance pedestrian access and those sorts of things at the same time.\u201d<\/p>\n
However, the survey results are somewhat unsurprising.<\/p>\n
Fifty-four responses were received to the questions, with 34 of them coming from within the hospitality sector yet Mr King backed the results.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it\u2019s a good representation of the hospitality sector,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s important about the survey is that it\u2019s given us an indication of what sort of support hospitality is looking for and what sort of infrastructure they need to help them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re certainly interested in working with retail, health and fitness. We want to support all business to be able to operate in a COVID safe environment.\u201d<\/p>\n
Tim Matthews owns a number of businesses along Armstrong Street including The Forge, 1860 Bakehouse, and Housey Housey.<\/p>\n
With a need for increased outdoor dining spaces – especially under current density limits – as well as short and long term parking options for the bakery and takeaway food, he said a balancing act was required.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou really need to talk to each trader and find out what works for them,\u201d he said. \u201cThey know their businesses the best.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn some cases it might be carparks or laneways. It\u2019s really about coming up with a custom solution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe like the short, sharp takeaway parks, but sometimes they won\u2019t work for hairdressers. It\u2019s about coming up with a balance that suits the street.\u201d<\/p>\n
Figures from the municipality say total spending in the local economy in July was down 10 per cent on 2020, which in turn was down seven per cent on 2019.<\/p>\n
City of Ballarat officers will now prepare a full report on the survey results for councillors to consider.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
RESULTS from a survey run by the City of Ballarat are in, and they say people want more outdoor dining options. The findings include a desire for hospitality venues to have more access to fixed and temporary street furniture. Launching the results of the survey inside The Forge\u2019s new marque on Armstrong Street, City of […]<\/p>\n