How Ballarat customers think Central Square shopping centre could be improved
Ballarat shoppers are calling for a much-needed upgrade of a major CBD shopping centre, with locals demanding more shops and improved safety.
Ballarat residents have called for an overhaul of a shopping centre in the heart of the city, with a focus on better quality retailers, a more lively atmosphere, and improved security.
Central Square Ballarat on Armstrong St has roughly 30 shops and is dominated by its Target and Myer facing Doveton St and Sturt St.
Other retailers include Witchery, Mimco, Peter Alexander, and Portmans; and a Brothers Barber is expected to open this month.
The centre recently held a fortnight of activities for the beginning of Spring, including a Grand Final handball competition and free sand art for kids.
But those who frequent the centre say there is much that could be done to make it more appealing in the long-term.
Online commenters suggested the addition of a bookshop, a grocer, a convenience store or supermarket, and a Korean fried chicken shop.
One individual said they should “update the whole store”.
“I go there often as it has the good clothes shops, good shoe shop, and Myer,” one person said.
“The post office is really good and the Gloria Jeans is good.
“It has a lot of potential and wouldn’t need much to get it up to quality standard.”
Another said she wanted “independent shops”.
“We don’t need any more chain stores!” she wrote.
“A well stocked Myers.
“Clean toilets, clean and working lifts that don’t smell like urine.
“Meeting areas with cafes, etc.”
A common theme was a lack of use of the side of the centre facing Armstrong St, where there is an arcade leading towards Sturt St.
“It’s always been a waste that none of the shops facing Armstrong Street actually open onto Armstrong Street,” a commenter said.
“You could create a bit of a vibe out there with some food and coffee.”
Outside the centre, shopper Kerryn Williams said she would like to see shops opening onto Armstrong St to make the area more “vibrant”.
“I think they need to have something on the outside that invites people to go in, so street performers or buskers or kids’ things so families will come,” she said.
“Then people wander in and there’s a range of shops instead of empty walls.
“And advertise it, use social media to promote it.
“Perhaps lower the rent so people will open more business in there.”
She said the food court also needed more variety.
The lift for the adjoining car park, run by CarePark, was broken for some time, but has now been repaired.
Nevertheless, its reputation is poor.
“The lifts are dirty and seldom working (especially of late),” one person said.
“The stairs are disgusting, smell, and those with physical challenges can’t negotiate them.
“Get the basics right first I’d say.”
A local named Danae said groups of young people frequented the area and made it less appealing.
She said some of them had recently picked on a particular security guard at the centre, causing him to quit.
“He was probably the only one who actually told people off,” she said.
Kathryn, a cattle farmer, also called for better security.
Exiting the centre, she said she had just seen teenage boys spitting at a Target guard.
It’s understood security guards at the centre now have body cameras.
Marcellus Brown, a regular at the centre, said Central Square had changed over the years.
“A lot of stuff’s closed,” he said.
“I’m not really sure what 2030 looks like for Central Square.
“There’s competing businesses directly adjacent from one another, there’s staples that have been here 20, 30 years that have gone.
“It’s a weird time.”
He said security was better now than a decade ago, when he was a teenager and it was “chaos”.
“There’s still work to be done,” he said.
Central Square management declined to comment.
Ballarat sale and auction results, week ending December 13
