A report into retail in Launceston has been commissioned by the council to investigate the best steps to take to ensure a vibrant retail environment in the city.
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The report is being done by the University of Tasmania and will help to provide an "evidence-based discussion" around the future of retail in the CBD, City of Launceston general manager Michael Stretton said.
Vacant shops in the CBD have once again become a topic of conversation, following the news iconic bookstore Collins, formerly Fullers, would close its Launceston store.
The closure leaves Launceston with only two bricks-and-mortar bookshops.
A food van trial in the Brisbane Street mall was also scrapped this week after only one person applied an expression of interest. The application was later withdrawn.
The trial left a sour taste in the mouths of CBD food businesses, who presented a petition against the trial to the council.
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Mr Stretton said retail remained a challenging environment for many businesses and there were a number of contributing factors.
"The retail landscape is a constantly changing business environment, with old businesses closing and new ones opening, and there are many variables which drive this.
"Many of these are outside the control of the council, including rental prices, changing markets, and changing consumer trends like the rise in online shopping and new disruptive business models that have driven down demand for some products," he said.
Mr Stretton said the council discusses the retail sector regularly with stakeholders including business representatives and other tiers of government, as well as experts at the University of Tasmania to best understand the challenges the sector is facing.
However, he said, despite the challenges, there were businesses that were doing well and have high confidence moving forward.
Revitalising the CBD is the focus of City of Launceston council's City Heart project, with the first stage of the project completed last year.
"What we do have control over, and what we've achieved through the Launceston City Heart Project, is upgrading our ageing and tired public spaces to meet contemporary standards, in line with the award-winning public consultation we undertook for the project in 2014," Mr Stretton said.
He said the revitalisation of these public spaces had shown a result in falling vacancy rates, with the latest data showing shopfront vacancy in the CBD is at 10 per cent. This has fallen from 14.4 per cent vacancy in 2014.
"Already we've seen new events like the Launceston Night Market taking advantage of these redeveloped spaces, new investment confidence in the CBD as evidenced by falling vacancy rates, and creative new businesses opening up across Launceston," Mr Stretton said.
"Another aspect we have control over is the planning approvals system, and we've worked hard to attract new investment to Launceston and to streamline the process for applicants.
"The council approved more than $215m worth of planning applications across the municipality last year, including more nearly $100m across the commercial sector."
A motion to prepare a report into the viability of the first 90-minutes free parking in the council's multi-storey car parks was approved at this week's council meeting.
Mr Stretton said parking prices "were often raised as a perceived silver bullet to complex retail challenges".
The free parking initiative was part of re-elected mayor Albert van Zetten's mayoral campaign.
The report into retailing in the city is expected to be completed and come before Launceston councillors in April.
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