EDA Journal EDAJ VOL12 NO 3 | Page 27

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT QUARTERLY • Ensure that community, social and cultural services and facilities are established or retained within existing centres, rather than on isolated sites and link local businesses to local sport, education, cultural and recreation organisations and encourage the businesses to build relationships with and possibly sponsor local activities. • Recognise business needs and issues when planning and undertaking infrastructure works and ensure that businesses a say in (and potentially some responsibility for) the provision, maintenance and management of parking, traffic management, waste management and streetscapes within the centres. • Contribute to the funding of business initiatives in the centre by directing part of the revenue raised in the centre back to the centre through the business association. • Provide or support business development training for the businesses in the centres and recognise and publicly acknowledge the business leaders in the centres. REFERENCES 1. Smart Cities Plan. Australian Government Department of Prime Minster and Cabinet Commonwealth of Australia 2016. 2. The Economic Value of Main Street Centres. Essential Economics May 2019. The centre is embraced by the local community as a place to go, to gather and to celebrate and is much more than a transactional retail centre. It is a location where children play, mothers and fathers meet, professionals network, and people simply sit. About Mainstreet Australia: Mainstreet Australia aims to provide a forum for information exchange, networking, advocacy and professional development for the people, business organisations and consultants involved in the management and marketing of Australia’s traditional main streets and town centres. It provides a collective voice to advocate to government on their behalf, to work to address issues of concern, capitalise on innovations and opportunities and promote what is special and unique about main streets and town centres. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Stephen Sully is an urban planner and economic development practitioner. He has been involved with the revitalisation of town centres across Australia over the past 30 years through his work with Local and State Government and as a private consultant. He has recently retired from full time employment and is currently Secretary of Mainstreet Australia. . VOL.12 NO.3 2019 | 27