Mildura’s Langtree Mall: Case for staying pedestrian only

Mildura’s outdoor shopping strip has seen better days, but turning the space back over to traffic may not be the answer.

From shoppers to business owners, many have firm views about what should happen with Mildura’s Langtree Mall.

More than one in three spaces in the mall sits vacant, the result of a pre-COVID trend that accelerated with last year’s retail downturn.

Cars were kicked out when the mall opened in 1986 and there’s a solid contingent who think putting traffic back in is the answer.

Others are adamant that it should stay pedestrian only and what’s needed are some minor tweaks and fresh ideas.

Trader Ryan Hammerton last year revealed his sensible alternative, putting in a single lane of traffic with short term parking.

His mock-ups strike a balance between maintaining the feel of the mall and putting motorists directly in front of shops again.

At the very least, few could dispute the diagnosis behind his proposal: access is key.

Now is the time for all considerations to be put on the table and there are a couple worth integrating into the debate.

“That strip between Eighth and Ninth is the only open bit of space between the CBD and the riverfront,” Mildura Mayor Jason Modica says.

There would be consequences to taking that space away, even if a road can still be blocked off for major events.

Would it benefit the CBD to become purely roads and businesses with no variety and no accommodation for stores that might belong in a different format?

Any decision also needs to be made for the long haul.

It’s too early for costs to be fleshed out, but the current mall, built at a cost of $1.6 million, has made it 34 years.

The more money that is spent, the more longevity has to be taken into account.

Would we satisfied if the bill was significant, only for the arguing to start again in three decades’ time?

Autonomous driving technology has a long way to go, but when it gets there, the economics of car ownership will almost certainly change.

When the likes of Uber can cut the driver out of the cost of a ride, the thinking goes, hailing a ride will make far more sense for people than owning a car that gets used maybe 2 per cent of the day.

It’s worth keeping in mind the future may involve a whole lot of people getting dropped off at Eighth St or Ninth St, putting them closer to the mall, rather than driving around searching for a park.

Tesla chief executive Elon Musk spoke last month about how “robotaxis” potentially on the road for 60 hours a week were part of his company’s road map.

Does it happen this decade? Perhaps not.

At some point over the next three decades? Not something to bet against, judging by the verdict of investors who have driven up Tesla’s share price.

Which isn’t to say nothing should be done.

In the time between now and whenever that future arrives, access will likely remain a question mark.

One of the mall’s four corners is currently empty – could that or a similar mall-adjacent space be turned into a multistorey car park?

It’d be costly but potentially have a decent lifespan, given those Teslas will probably need somewhere undercover to park and recharge the other 108 hours of the week.

But that’s just one idea.

As The Mildura News revealed last week, a process has begun to find the answer.

Mildura councillors, at least before lockdown, were about to meet to discuss what consultation needed to be done, a key first step.

Stakeholders such as Mildura City Heart were expected to meet with councillors after that.

Getting all the traders and landlords together to hear their views, as well as finding out what customers want, seems to be the goal, as it should be.