Press release from Sydney Road Brunswick Association

BRUMBYS DECISION to extend CLEARWAY times on main roads from CITY.

The Sydney Road Brunswick Association supports small business. We are a traders group, which is here to rejuvenate Sydney Road into a thriving shopping strip, for the benefit of all the Community.

It is clearly counterproductive to our mission for the State Government to announce a
plan to extend existing clearway times, as we see this step as encouraging more car travel, and as detrimental to the viability of small, local business. This is yet another blow to small businesses who are already struggling with the reduction in peoples’ spending, due to the interest rate increases. Local shopping strips will basically lose business.

Is the State Government fully aware of the impact, not only on small businesses, but on people?

• People will not stop off to do their quick ‘before and after work’ shopping.

• People will not stop to shop after daily school and kinder pick up’s (3-4pm)

• A 5 hour shopping window, between 10am and 3pm reduces time to shop.

• Most shoppers (who are women), are working and unable to shop at this time.

• Local shops will lose business as people will go to ‘hard top’ shopping centres for more of their shopping needs, where parking is abundant 7 days a week.

• People who take Public Transport are unable to carry as much and will not tend to buy as much.

• More shopping will be done on weekends, in people’s leisure times, as shopping will become to restrictive during the week.

• Deliveries to the street will be restricted to 5 hrs, and couriers having to carry goods across the street, as parking will be congested to one side. Double parking will be more prevalent.

• Sydney Road, with its narrow footpaths, will be dangerous for shoppers, with cars traveling 60kmh along the curb with only 1.5 metres for pedestrians to walk in many instances.

• The harsh, fast-car environment at clearway times will deter customers, especially with children and those disabled members of the community with frames or wheelchairs.

• Faster tram speeds will add to the threat to pedestrians and locals.

• Parking of cars will have a huge impact on residential parking areas, as cars get forced to park in the narrow residential side streets.

With no public consultation or consideration to those who will ultimately be affected by these changes, the State Government should reconsider this snap decision and allow for proper public consultation and input from the many sectors in the community and business, who will bare the brunt of this announcement.

What will happen to that great community slogan : SHOP LOCAL ??
Coordinator : Claire Perry

Sydney Road Brunswick Association
Moreland Community Enterprise Centre
Ground Floor
233 Sydney Road Brunswick 3056
Postal Address: Po Box 770 Brunswick Lower 3056
Phone: (03) 9380 2005
Fax: (03) 9380 4930
Info@sydneyroad.com.au
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