CABOA to breathe new life in the Albany City District

Revamp plan for CBD
16th March 2009, 13:45 WST
Albany business owners and managers have joined forces and come up with a plan to jazz up the central business district.
Central Albany Business Owners’ Alliance has a vision for a revitalised city centre, which would give shoppers, residents and tourists a new level of enjoyment as they visit attractions and facilities.
Having met with David West from Premier Retail and Marketing, Adelaide, and discussed models for an improved city centre, CABOA has appointed a steering committee to create a business plan for the "business improvement district".
As part of the project, CABOA is hoping to gain the support from the City of Albany to put a levy on businesses around the area, which would support the employment of a street manager.
This manager would co-ordinate aspects of improving the CBD, including marketing techniques, beautifying the streets, special activities and entertainment, security, business training and other events.
CABOA was not concerned about specific issues with the area, and praised the City of Albany for the care it took in maintaining it, but its project took a different tack, CABOA chairman Davyd Hooper said.
Mr Hooper, of Dog Rock Shopping Centre, said it was more about making Albany’s shopping precinct more enjoyable and beautiful; for example, one of the ideas CABOA had was to have a local artist design and paint a mural on the plain side wall of Woolworths, which faces Lockyer Avenue traffic.
Mr Hooper said a survey revealed 85 per cent of businesses in the Albany CBD supported the concept.
The City of Albany is expected to consider CABOA’s proposal at its April meeting.
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