Talbragar traders’ concerns ignored
LOCAL retailer, Harry’s Menswear owner Peter Sutton, has accused council of ignoring a submission by Talbragar Street traders about the proposed Talbragar Street beautification which council passed on January 25.
During Monday night’s council meeting, Mr Sutton held up a copy of the submission from the Talbragar Street traders dated January 15.
“What I found out after the 25th of January when you had an extraordinary meeting to pass this concept plan into reality – I was wondering why such a hurry. The fact is I was told by your mayor that this would take probably 12 to 18 months to instigate,” Mr Sutton said.
“It wasn’t after the 25th of January that I found out that our submission that I have a here... which is stamped and dated by the council on the exact date, the 15th of January, but it was absent from your report. And I believe the fact that you have 25 business owners that would like to have some sort of input into this was ignored.
“I myself personally am just so disappointed in the council, and after looking at the video of that meeting, not one of you actually stood up and spoke against it. I heard it was a desert.”
The Talbragar Street traders’ most pressing concern over the beautification is the loss of 17 parking spaces.
“I want to say we’re not against trees... So, we’re not going to bag out the whole concept. What we’re really looking for is consultation to be able to draw up the best outcomes for what we as traders in Talbragar Street consider to be one of the best and premier streets in Dubbo itself.
“It generates a lot of rate money for the council and its one of the most expensive real estates in Dubbo per square metre, so we are concerned.”
Mr Sutton inferred the number of empty shops on Macquarie Street today is a result of that street’s beautification in the 1990s.
“At the moment, Macquarie
Street has 19 vacant premises, over 6700 square metres of empty space. It’s one of the hardest streets to negotiate. You know how many empty spaces are in Talbragar Street? One. Of 100 square metres. Our street’s very unique. It’s a dynamic street, it’s full of boutique type traders. It’s a special destination street,” Mr Sutton said.
“So, changing the dynamics of that street, could ruin the livelihoods of a lot of small businesspeople who have invested a lot of money into that street and their businesses. To come and put something without really any consultation to those people who play a major part, I think, is really poor judgement by the council.
“I would hope... that you relook at that recommendation that was made at the Extraordinary Meeting and make a recission motion on that recommendation and put forward a motion that we will readdress this particular problem and will consult with those people the best outcomes for those traders,” Mr Sutton said.
“It will be disappointing if nothing happens from this. As I say, if it doesn’t happen, there is a council election coming up and certainly there’ll be a lot of cranky people who talk to a lot of people and votes will be lost if nothing is done.”
Also on the agenda of Monday night’s meeting were two mayoral minutes about the appointment of Dean Frost to interim CEO and St. John’s Rugby League Football Club’s proposal to develop Regand Park for playing fields.
The draft Wellington Town Centre Plan was adopted, to be reviewed every four years.
The Wellington Museum Committee will be granted a license agreement for $1 a year to operate from the Old Police Station for a 12-month period.
Councillors agreed to continue showing their opposition to the River Street Bridge, and continue advocating for a pedestrian link, two-part connection to the northwest sector and the lowering of the roadway.