HOBART ALDERMAN HELEN BURNET TO MEET WITH RETAILERS’ ASSOCIATION

Hobart Alderman Helen Burnet will today meet with the North Hobart Retailers’ Association with a view to implementing a pedestrian trial, ‘Summer Sundays’, in early 2010.

“There has been fantastic community and business support for this concept through positive feedback I’ve received from the North Hobart Residents’ Association, as well as local retailers. Following on from the resounding success of the Hot August Jazz community festival, held along the North Hobart strip, it would be great to see North Hobart buzzing with people over summer.”

The proposed February festival would run every Sunday during the month and would bring significant numbers to the famous North Hobart café and cultural hub – with flow-on effects for local musicians, such as potential CD releases.

“Events such as this return the streets of North Hobart to the community and foster social cohesion, capitalising on the area’s reputation as a cultural hotspot.”
While acknowledging there had been some concern regarding the restriction of vehicular access to the precinct, Alderman Burnet said these concerns could be addressed through ensuring better public transport and parking facilities during the proposed summer event, with potential collaboration with alternative transport organisations, such as Bicycle Tasmania.

“It’s important we move to make people-friendly areas; it’s the people that make these events work through their patronage, which can only have a positive financial flow-on effect to businesses in the area.”

Alderman Burnet pointed to the success of the ‘Summer Streets’ festival in New York or, more locally, the Salamanca Market as examples of where the promotion of pedestrian (and restriction of car) access had been beneficial to local business.

“This meeting will allow everyone to move forward constructively with a view to growing both community and business interests in North Hobart, as well as cementing the cosmopolitan reputation of the area, locally, nationally – and perhaps even internationally.”
Helen Burnet