Kon Vatskalis’ plans to help people ‘have fun’ in the Smith St Mall
Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis has revealed his plan to reignite the mall and turn it from an empty thoroughfare into a vibrant “have fun” precinct.
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AL FRESCO dining fees in the Smith St Mall would be waived for a year to increase business opportunities, if Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis had his way.
The concept, which Mr Vatskalis said he would bring to council in the coming weeks, would see al fresco dining fees surrendered for a year to allow businesses to experience mall trading before introducing permanent fees.
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Mr Vatskalis said it would be a good initiative to transform Darwin without surrendering too many fees.
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“The cost to council will be minimal but if in 12 months people realise they are making money being in the mall and they stay, then we’ll start to make money,” he said.
“It’s an investment.”
The only businesses currently operating with al fresco dining in the Mall, not including the arcades, are Cafe 21, Frankies Pizza Joint, The Rabbithole and Ruby Vietnamese.
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Mr Vatskalis said he would open discussions with current operators and determine an appropriate amount of time to waive there fees as well to ensure they weren’t being compromised.
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He said the mall needed a new direction behind how it should best be used.
“If you’re going to generate economic activity in the mall we have to (establish) what to we want to do in the mall,” he said.
“There’s no shopping centre, so people won’t come. How about we transform the mall into a ‘have fun’ precinct.”
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The lord mayor said giving the mall a new purpose and capitalising on businesses, eager for a helping hand, could help turn the fortunes of the city and make it the place to be.
“Go out and have a drink, have dinner, bring the kids down. The best way to do that is to attract business here,” he said.
“If you build it, they will come. How do you attract them? Put an incentive in.”
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