Over a 10 year period Coffs Harbour City Centre had experienced high vacancy rates and falling property values, increased unemployment and crime. These were all indicators for the need to revitalise the City Centre. Coffs Harbour City Council partnered with business owners, landholders, artisans and community representatives to develop a strategy for the revitalisation of the whole city centre precinct.
The project has been funded through a special rate on City Centre property owners, approved by the State Government following demonstration of majority support for the proposal.
The jewel in the crown of this ongoing project has been the successful transformation of the former High Street Mall, reopening the area to calmed traffic with a clear route, Harbour Drive, leading from the Pacific Highway to the harbour’s edge. Council and the community want to make the City Centre a healthier place for people to live, work and visit, with sun shaded areas, tree lined streets, cultural activities and facilities, improved parks and leisure opportunities, while retaining the City Centre’s popularity as an ideal alfresco dining location. The project to date has outstripped expectations.
With the completion of the new City Square, street beautification through landscaping, themes and public art, the opening of the mall to make way for calmed traffic, and a range of marketing initiatives, the City Centre has been reinvigorated. Some businesses reported increased turnover of up to 50 per cent in 2001/2002 compared to the previous financial year. Crime has dropped significantly, with improved lighting and increased traffic flow, vacant shops have been snapped up, and property values have spiralled with the new demand for premises.
During construction, 13 shops became occupied, and a total of 18 have since been let. Prior to opening of the new City Square and Harbour Drive, $7.5 million worth of property (shops) had changed hands. Before the City Centre reconstruction, properties required a minimum 14 per cent return (yield) to be sold. Properties are now turning over at as low as eight percent demonstrating business confidence in the revitalisation.
This is further exemplified by the sale of the Palm Centre and the $4.5 million refurbishment currently in progress. The project has been an example of Council’s successful partnering with private enterprise.
Planning Excellence Award
In February 2001, Council and the community was awarded a commendation for Excellence in Planning, from the Royal Australian Planning Institute (NSW Division) . The award, in the category of Plan Making and Strategic Planning by Local Government, was in recognition of the work to develop the City Centre Strategic Plan.
