The debate around the future of Launceston's CBD has been a long and winding road.
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Conversations about parking costs, and the perception of a high turnover of shops, and the number of empty shop fronts have been the focus of many water cooler conversations.
However, the future of Launceston's CBD has been revealed, in a new $90 million investment in a critical inner-city site.
While traditional retail businesses have and always will be a staple and the bread-and-butter of places like the Brisbane Street Mall, the investment by New Creative shows there is another way to think about bringing vibrancy. Education is a vital pillar of society, and one way that Launceston can fulfil its goal to be one of the great regional cities is to provide a unique educational experience that is uniquely Launceston.
It shows that the future of the CBD is education, and will dovetail nicely with the work already being done on the University of Tasmania's new Inveresk campus.
Not only that, but the development also solves one of Launceston's long-standing bugbears - the issue of the St John Street bus mall. Relocating the bus mall to the Paterson Street Central car park will take the buses off the main arterial road of St John Street and take them to a purpose-built facility. Students who wish to study at the creative industries precinct, at Foundry, or if another institution takes up residence, will be able to catch buses directly to their campus. While there, they will be able to wander into the mall and support the businesses that are there already and the ones that will be tenanting the old Birchalls building.
Birchalls held and continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Launceston residents and many people are disheartened to see the building left empty and boarded up for so long.
Along with the UTAS redevelopment, this development has come together through a collaboration between all tiers of government and private investors, and it's this type of project that will be incredibly important post-COVID-19. The flow-on effects to business, retail, transport and education will be the kick-start Launceston needs.
