Wollongong MP Noreen Hay yesterday called for the reopening of the Crown St Mall to traffic, saying she feared the city's retail heart was at serious risk of withering.Ms Hay has joined a growing chorus of criticism over the latest designs for a $14.2 million revitalisation of the mall, describing the plans from the NSW Government Architect's Office as just a "cat's lick".Her call is likely to reignite a debate many people thought was over after Wollongong's three administrators endorsed a revitalisation plan in April last year that would involve dismantling the "birdcage" but keeping the mall closed to vehicular traffic.
First look at $14m Crown St Mall revamp"My electorate office is situated in the mall so I am well placed to see patronage slowly dropping away, not in the Gateway, but in the side streets off and around the mall," Ms Hay said.The introduction of parking meters had exacerbated the situation, she said.Ms Hay said she would like to see the mall reopened with sensitivity, where footpaths were widened to allow ease of pedestrian access and limited traffic, including a regular free shuttle bus service that would give shoppers easy access to the entire length of the shopping precinct."At night the mall turns into a no-man's land and attracts the wrong sort of person," the MP said."But where there is light and movement there is a lot less activity of this type."She feels that the traditional idea of trying to compete with major suburban shopping centres and their ample free parking should be abandoned and replaced with a strong focus on street-style speciality shopping and side-street market stalls."Around the world, malls are being reopened or changed in shopper-friendly ways that still leave the ability to close them off for special events or parades."We have to find a way to encourage people living in suburbs like Unanderra, Berkeley and Port Kembla to come to Wollongong for a shopping experience."At the same time, governments at all levels should be asking themselves how they can assist small business in getting these lost patrons back."Asked if she thought the option chosen for the mall was cheap and unexciting, Ms Hay said: "With councils it's always about money. What they have done is work with the money they have."The MP said she would be happy to carry any visionary message to the Government.
