Mildura’s Langtree Mall: Proposal to return traffic
A trader in the Mildura City Heart has come up with a solution to address the high number of vacancies in the mall. More car parks are only part of the fix.
Mildura
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A bold proposal for Mildura’s Langtree Mall would return one lane of traffic and create short-term parking options close to shops.
Ryan Hammerton, who owns a business on each side of the mall, began working on the plans more than 12 months ago, as vacancies began to increase.
The efforts predate COVID-19, which has led to further vacancies.
Mr Hammerton estimated about 22 of the shops were now empty, representing more than a third of the mall.
He said the categories of stores that have departed vary and weren’t limited to retail, with food options among the losses.
“Everyone points to internet selling, to tourism, to the fires, to blue green algae, all sorts of reasons,” Mr Hammerton said.
“It doesn’t coincide with anything very much, it doesn’t coincide with specific categories.
“For example, with food stores, you don’t buy food online.”
Mr Hammerton said he witnessed vacancies climb up to about “13 or 14” before a mall makeover in 2015 was followed by a return to full occupancy.
Despite previously opposing the return of traffic, seeing vacancies again climb caused a change of viewpoint.
“It feels to me there’s something that underpins the rise and fall of our mall,” he said.
“My concern — and it took me a long time to come around to it — but having seen it rise and fall, I really believe it’s access.”
His plans include a single lane in the Eight St to Ninth St direction.
Alongside the lane would be 43 car parks, including seven dedicated for parents, three for people with a disability and five “click and collect” bays.
The majority of parks would be for 30 minutes, the intention being to also alleviate carparking on Eighth St and Ninth St for those needing more time.
Mr Hammerton said the strength of cafes along these streets had been positive for the town, but there may have been unintended consequences for foot traffic in the mall.
It also contrasted with the approach large shopping centres may take to encourage more retail spending.
“They’ll put the food places at the most obscure place, so you have to walk past the stores,” he said.
Mr Hammerton estimated the lane and parks would take up about 40 per cent of the mall’s width, maintaining its pedestrian focus.
The future of Langtree Mall had become a key issue during this month’s Mildura Rural City Council elections.
Councillors Glenn Milne and Gavin Sedgmen, who are seeking re-election, have pushed for the return of traffic.
Candidate Jodi Reynolds said continuity across the broader precinct, including the next stage of the riverfront redevelopment, was important.
Ms Reynolds said the council should also heed what larger cities with malls had done to transform them, going beyond the scope of shopping.
“They are now places you have an experience, and there’s no reason we can’t have that in Mildura,” she said.
Ms Reynolds said while Mr Hammerton’s proposal addressed the issue of parking, more solutions were needed, such as providing clean public toilets.
Candidate Paul O’Neill said meaningful consultation with mall traders was needed, but he had a personal preference for more green and shaded areas.
“It comes down to what those store owners and lessees have an opinion on first,” Mr O’Neill said.
Mr Hammerton said the decision to focus on parking first was intentional.
Actions which make tenancies more attractive should be the first priority, he argued, and once achieved other ideas such as a playground and public toilets could be considered.
He said the issue of access had “a sense of urgency”, while other measures could be budgeted for over time.
Mr Hammerton said the initial feedback since presenting his plans on a Langtree Mall Evolution Facebook page, where he wants people to contribute to the discussion, had been positive.
Mildura City Heart were contacted for comment.
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