GEELONG\u2019S increasingly troubled mall has been splashed across headlines for all the wrong reasons in the last month, with council declaring the Little Malop Street shopping strip should be moved from low priority to high priority on the city\u2019s revitalisation list.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe Central Geelong \u2013 Public Open Space Network Report\u201d \u2013 developed by Revitalising Central Geelong \u2013 details a number of community suggested public space priorities for the CBD and waterfront, ranking recommendations as \u201chigh\u201d, \u201cmedium\u201d or \u201clow\u201d priority.<\/p>\n
Despite its known crime history, including the stabbing of a 20-year-old male last month, the creation of a master plan to redevelop the \u201cLittle Malop Street Plaza open space\u201d falls under the low-priority header.<\/p>\n
The report was presented on Tuesday February 12 at a meeting in Drysdale.<\/p>\n
During the forum, Cr Anthony Aitken moved an amendment, stating council does not support the report\u2019s low-priority recommendation for the mall.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is largely a good document, but it doesn\u2019t recognise something that all of us recognise, and that the wider community recognises \u2013 that the mall is a significant issue, and must be treated as a high priority,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a responsibility as councillors to strategically address this issue. We need the state government and the Revitalising Central Geelong team to do the same.<\/p>\n
\u201cWith this amendment, we are sending a clear message that this council regards the mall as a
\ntop priority requiring immediate and high-level attention.\u201d<\/p>\n
The amendment received unanimous support. Projects listed as high priority include creating a new open space south of Myers Street, continuing to implement the Urban Forest Strategy 2015-2025, and investigating ways to improve the link between Corio Bay and the Barwon River for cycling and walking.<\/p>\n
Mayor Bruce Harwood said the community\u2019s vocal stance on the issue should be reflected in the report.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t think enough priority has been given to the mall and the surrounding area in this report,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe community is clearly telling us they believe it needs to be a high priority. We want the mall to be an appealing, highly used open space area that meets the community\u2019s expectation.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report suggests improving open spaces in the CBD and along the waterfront could play a significant role in the city\u2019s development, stimulating small business growth and inviting tourism to Geelong and its surrounding areas.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GEELONG\u2019S increasingly troubled mall has been splashed across headlines for all the wrong reasons in the last month, with council declaring the Little Malop Street shopping strip should be moved from low priority to high priority on the city\u2019s revitalisation list. \u201cThe Central Geelong \u2013 Public Open Space Network Report\u201d \u2013 developed by Revitalising Central […]<\/p>\n