THE City of Greater Bendigo council will take the opinions of residents on board at an upcoming forum on the future of the CBD.
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The CBD will be the subject of public scrutiny on Monday, June 1.
“Council wants people to want to come and shop, eat and spend time in central Bendigo,” Councillor Lisa Ruffell said.
“The discussion on Monday will be about looking at how we can best achieve this so our CBD can be the place to be.
“I encourage traders and other interested people to attend because the solutions cannot come from council alone.”
Peter Anthony Menswear store manager Haylee Kennedy has many qualms with Hargreaves Mall in the CBD.
She said the mall desperately needed to be a more welcoming environment.
"There needs to be a sitting down, dining sort of area," she said.
"We used to have some coverage from one side to another of the mall.
"That's what we hear constantly (from customers).
"There just needs to be something to shelter them from the sun and rain."
She said her business would grow if the mall was redeveloped.
She said if the area was more comfortable people would be inclined to linger longer.
Bendigo Traders Association president Steven Blundell said the CBD had potential to expand with new residential developments.
"We've got to work with the council and businesses to generate an environment that encourages small business to develop and thrive," he said.
"The main thing is to encourage people in Bendigo to frequent the CBD."
The forum will be held at the Bendigo Library Activity Room on Monday June 1, 2015 from 7pm to 8.30pm and will be chaired by Cr Lisa Ruffell.
Speakers are City of Greater Bendigo Place Manager, Philip DeAraugo, Scott Jackman from Consulting Solutions and Bendigo Traders Association President, Steven Blundell. There will be plenty of time for open discussion.Cr Ruffell said having a successful and vibrant CBD is vital.
The ward forum will also allow councillors to report back on current issues and give members of the public an opportunity to raise issues and ask questions.