With all indicators pointing to continuing population growth, alongside moderate to strong growth in tourism, Council has developed the Ballina Retail Strategy. Responding to community interest in maintaining a vibrant retailing sector, this strategy sets directions for future growth and development. It looks at various issues currently impacting, or expected to impact, on the regional economy and the Shire’s key business sectors.
The strategy aims to capitalise on increased consumer spending from both population and tourism growth, as well as the multiplier effect through additional retail sales dollars in the local economy.
In 2002, Council engaged IBECON Pty Ltd, a market research, retail and economic development consultancy, to prepare the Ballina Retail Strategy Background Report. Completed in January 2003, this report identified the key issues effecting retail and commercial activities in the Shire.
Working with this report and IBECON, Council’s Strategic Services Section prepared a draft Retail Strategy that was put on public exhibition in April 2003. The Ballina Retail Strategy was adopted by Council in August last year. The key plank of the strategy is that the two current major retail precincts – the Ballina Town Centre and Kerr Street Retailing Precinct – will continue as the Shire’s main retail centres.
This means that the development of any additional major retail outlets will be discouraged. However, the strategy also includes plans for the development and growth of retail areas within each of the Shire’s towns and villages. Other issues considered included the close proximity of the regional retail centre in nearby Lismore, and with recent improvements to the Pacific Highway, the fact that the Gold Coast is now just an hours drive to the north.
While the strategy addresses these and other challenges, Council is working closely with the Chamber of Commerce, and the local business community in regard to factors, such as product range, pricing, service levels and trading hours, which are all outside the control of Council.
