It’s about time
LAST Friday evening I found myself back in an old hunting ground in Little Malop St.
My son, Sam, is over from England for Christmas, so we decided to join in the celebrations to reopen the street and cast our eyes over the revitalised lane ways and recently completed art works.
The road had been closed off and there was some evidence of an increase in alfresco dining.
This, of course, is an old stamping ground for both of us, as with Chris my business partner, we owned a cafe/bistro in the strip.
Our place, PinkFish Bar and Cafe, was a pretty laid back sort of place and complemented the other venues.
We are talking here of the old Cats Bistro, Bambaleo owned by the fairly eccentric and Polish Ella but serving Spanish food, Wayan with her Thai-based menu, Tonic around the corner in James St, Beavs, Sandy’s and, of course, the Eureka with Disco Stewie.
Heady days, indeed, and days when the whole strip was pumping, licensing laws were much more relaxed and a good time was had by one and all.
In our time we also underwent the first iteration of the “new” streetscape. We were promised we would become the Hardware Lane of Geelong. Yes, the street would be closed with acres of alfresco dining available as and when the weather permitted.
Like the current traders, we also were enthusiastic and committed to the plan.
Our street works, however, went over the completion time frame by over six months and, to be honest, the place as a destination area never recovered.
Also closing the area on a regular and or permanent basis was promised.
On February 6, 2005, Stephen Wright, general manager special projects, wrote that he had initiated the statutory process for the partial closure of the street to traffic, to facilitate the extra alfresco dining the council was “committed” to and while he could not give a firm time frame, six months should do it.
Now, let me think about that. Yup, you are right, almost 13 years later it is still open to traffic with no increase in outdoor amenities.
Let us be fair, that was then and hopefully the mistakes of the past will not be repeated.
Friday was encouraging, although I did feel the crowd numbers could have been higher.
The traders were fantastic and were making an effort, although it would have been nice to have all of the venues open by 5pm, as some were rather tardy with their opening hours.
We enjoyed some good wine and a couple of beautifully made espresso martinis. Sam made the comment that when people get used to Little Malop St being closed off each Friday and Saturday night and the pattern is established, the strip could easily return to the heady days when every restaurant was packed out from Friday lunch until Sunday lunch, with the Eureka keeping the place lively and interesting, well into the small hours.
His point is well taken in that traders and the public need to know the experience is repeatable and consistent.
You need to know the kids will be safe as there will be no traffic to worry about. You need to know that for those who want a stroll and have a drink or two, there will be a variety of live street music.
You need to know that every Friday through until Sunday the amenities that first brought you to the CBD will be available.
For all these things to happen the council and whichever council committee is responsible for the CBD these days has to support and invest in the concept.
The council needs to close the road and pay the cost of doing so.
It needs to assist with keeping attractions fresh and contribute towards the cost of doing so.
The council talks of revitalising the CBD and support for this new iteration of Little Malop St is where it should start.