Don’t let our proud, old shopping precinct die: Blackwood traders for investment in their precinct

TRADERS say it’s been almost four decades since their precinct has been shown some love by the local council or state government — but with seven stores closing in the past 12 months, it’s urgently needed.

Sad to leave: Ingrid Gittings was forced to relocate her gift and craft shop from Blackwood to Unley Rd because of a lack of trade. Picture: Simon Cross

BLACKWOOD traders are crying out for more government investment in the suburb after a council report labelled the area “dated and dysfunctional”.

At least seven Blackwood businesses have closed or moved out of the suburb in the past year, including Cherub’s Gifts & Craft, The Orchard Food Store and Café, Blackwood TAB and Pizza Hut.

Traders say Mitcham Council and the State Government need to put money into the area and give it more attention.

The council this month released a report on the suburb and what could rejuvenate it, following almost 40 years of inaction.

It suggested major retail redevelopment, medium density residential development, moving council buildings and encouraging traders to work with the council among solutions.

Mitcham Mayor Glenn Spear said the latest report was a last-ditch attempt to make the area more viable.

At least seven Blackwood businesses have closed or moved out of the suburb in the past year, including Cherub’s Gifts & Craft, The Orchard Food Store and Café, Blackwood TAB and Pizza Hut.

He said council-hired consultants were working with business and property owners on ideas to reinvigorate ideas.

“This is the first time the council is actually getting up and doing something,” Mr Spear said.

”Previous councils did a lot of plans, but they never implemented them, they have not been feasible.

“They have achieved some things, but nothing major.”

A council report said no money had been budgeted for future works to upgrade the precinct.

Mr Spear would not put a price tag on the works, but said he would make council funding a priority and also lobby the State Government for money to improve road infrastructure.

The report stated the first of 35 studies into the Blackwood district, which looked into zoning, traffic flow, public transport and open space, was conducted in 1978.

“There has been no significant development in the centre during this period and, as a result, Blackwood is becoming very dated and dysfunctional,” the report said.

Traders told the Mitcham & Hills Messenger the precinct had potential to thrive, but needed more attention.

Vikki Threapleton started the Blackwood Community Buzz Facebook page to encourage residents to shop locally. Picture: Roger Wyman

After 10 years trading in Blackwood, Ingrid Gittings was forced to relocate her shop, Cherub’s Gifts & Craft, to Unley Rd last month because of a lack of trade.

“It was a hard decision after 10 years,” she said.

“The rent was too high for the size of shop and the number of people coming in (too low).”

Ms Gittings said since she opened her shop on Main St in 2006, the number of customers had steadily dropped, and the precinct was no longer a viable place to run a business.

She blamed this on a lack of public transport, pedestrian links and government investment, and more people choosing to shop at Westfield Marion.

She said her shop in Parkside, which she has renamed Our Beautiful Pieces, had better public and pedestrian transport links and more passing foot traffic.

Totally Locally Blackwood traders group spokeswoman and The Artisan Cafe owner Heather Holmes-Ross said the situation would become worse unless more State Government and council attention and funding was given to the area.

“Some traders feel a little bit unsupported,” she said.

Seeing a need to encourage people to shop locally, Coromandel Valley resident Vikki Threapleton started the Blackwood Community Buzz Facebook page about two years ago.

Today, more than 8000 people use the page.

“I think (Blackwood) could do with a bit of a freshen up because we are a bit forgotten at the top of the hill here, to be honest,” Ms Threapleton said.

As part of the plan to reinvigorate the area, the council will continue to lobby the State Government to rezone Blackwood to allow for low-to-medium-density developments in the area, which under State Government guidelines would allow for up to four storeys.

The height limit in Blackwood currently is two storeys.

Planning Minister John Rau rejected the council’s proposal earlier this year because it was not suitable for high-density living.

A spokesman for Mr Rau said: “The State Government is always open to discussions with local councils about rejuvenation and development appropriate to their area”.

The council will make a decision about how it can use its own buildings to improve the area at a meeting this month.