Noreen Hay claims makeover of mall too 'cosmetic'

Wollongong MP Noreen Hay says the city council's grand plan to reawaken the Crown St Mall is a "cosmetic" makeover that falls short on innovation.

Wollongong City Council on Wednesday unveiled a revised $14.2 million proposal to transform the troubled retail precinct.

It includes new pavers, a stand of trees, textured timber seating, coloured lighting and a children's water play area, plus removal of the much-derided "birdcage" to let shoppers move freely.

"Any improvement is better than none, but I don't think it's enough to reinvigorate the CBD … I just think it's cosmetic.

"I don't look a gift horse in the mouth, but I would have preferred to see more innovation to encourage more investment and movement in the mall," Ms Hay said.

She has long lobbied for slow-moving traffic through the mall.

But the MP praised the council for fast-tracking the revamp from five to three years.

"To be honest, for too long there has been too much talk and to-ing and fro-ing. At least we are doing something," she said.

Illawarra Property Council chairman David Laing questioned why the council set aside just $3.5 million for the mall upgrade in its next budget - one-third of the $10.3 million allocated to the North Beach Bathers' Pavilion refurbishment work.

"We haven't seen analysis as to why one project is better than another from an economic perspective," he said.

"We should be appraising a project in terms of economic benefit to the city. The Blue Mile is fantastic, but it's time to refocus on the city centre."

He called for a faster mall upgrade to "instil confidence" in the precinct, adding: "I think it's too important to do in bite-size chunks over a long time frame."

The bathers' pavilion was named in the council's CBD Action Plan last year as a "priority project" to link the foreshore to the city centre - a decision Mr Laing said "watered down" the plan.

"The problem is the city centre is too big. I wouldn't think many people out there would think the bathers' pavilion is part of the city centre," he said.

A council spokesman said it encouraged the Property Council to "provide positive suggestions for the refurbishment of this vital part of the CBD" through the DA submission process.

He said the bathers' pavilion work would create a leasable space which would enable the council to earn a return on its investment and create jobs.

The council is seeking public feedback on the plan. It will hold information kiosks in the mall next Friday from noon-2pm and on May 14 from 11am-1pm.

View the original article here