Bridge Mall Ballarat: Greville St, Curtis St shopping centre redevelopment plans

Plans to revitalise a Ballarat shopping precinct have been revealed and opinions are divided on whether it should go ahead.

A multi million-dollar redevelopment of a Ballarat shopping precinct has been revealed with the possibility it could be opened to traffic.

Ballarat Council is proposing a $15 million revitalisation of Bridge Mall in a bid to revitalise the shopping strip.

Ballarat chief executive Evan King unveiled the plan for a one-way road that would open the mall to eastbound traffic from Sturt St.

If councillors vote in favour of the preferred option at a meeting later this month, construction could begin early as next year.

The project could bring 70 jobs to the region.

Mr King revealed the second option for the precinct was to open the mall to westbound traffic from Victoria St.

He said the mall’s playground would be kept, and new car parks and bollards for markets were a possibility.

“We want a thriving, active, healthy, safe place for Ballarat people to come to,’’ Mr King said. “We’ve got great parking on either side of the Bridge Mall, if we can get it opened up and get people flowing through, dining on the sides of the street, we believe this can become a jewel in Ballarat’s crown.”

Mr King said the proposed plan had the backing of the Bridge Mall Traders Association.

“We believe that will create that incentive for people to invest here and feel like it’s a good investment, and people will be here to make those businesses viable,” he said.

A council-made video showing what the renovations could look like shows Grenville St closed to southbound traffic.

Retailer Messer & Opie manager Tracy Govan said she was “more than happy” for a project that would boost trade.

“It’s more about evolution and changing and going with times, if it’s time to reopen, it’s time to reopen,” she said.

Phuong Vo, who owns LV Garth Nails and Beauty, said she was opposed to the development as she believed her business, like many others in the mall would suffer when construction was underway and accessibility for customers potentially more difficult.