We question the value of removing carparks to create a pedestrian corridor when the core issue in the CBD is a shortage of car-parking and a lack of pedestrians.
The council should focus on more practical
solutions to address the decline of the CBD before committing further ratepayer
funding to projects that may not resolve the underlying problems.
We again suggest that councillors and the
Mayoral Taskforce for City Centre Revitalisation begin with the obvious
reality: the solution lies in enabling a mixed-use environment that includes
small-format boutique retail, offices, and residential development.
Enhancing the amenity of John Street may well
be a positive step, but it should be coordinated with significant
private-sector redevelopment of the underutilised land between the CBD and the
Town Basin.
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