Cairns business: Renewal project set to inject vibrancy into CBD
A bullseye has been drawn on dozens of vacant buildings as an ambitious new project looks to refill and reinvigorate the Cairns CBD. FIND OUT HOW
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CREATIVE entrepreneurs and start-up businesses are being encouraged to set up shop in the heart of Cairns in a landmark project to revitalise the ailing CBD.
Not-for-profit Renew Australia has partnered with CBD landlords and Cairns Regional Council in a year-long project where artists and businesses can occupy vacant space on a rolling 30-day lease free of charge, with indemnity insurance from Renew Australia giving landlords peace of mind.
Renew Cairns has been launched with the first space in Shields St set to be occupied by an artistic collective under the banner Golden Orb, creating a gallery space.
Project manager Phil Druery said the retail vacancy rate in the CBD was 35 per cent to 40 per cent and for office space it was 18 per cent.
He has three premises on Shields St and one on the Esplanade so far – and 51 expressions of interest from those keen to get a foothold in the CBD.
“We’ve got really good quality spaces so far and when we had an inspection for 27 Shields St, about 45 came and they started talking to each other and networking about what they could do together,” Mr Druery said.
“They may be start-ups or they may be businesses that are established and might have an online presence or a garage, and they can create a presence in a shopfront.”
He said the aim was to enable people to build business capacity while revitalising the city.
“Certainly we don’t see ourselves as any kind of solution to the CBD situation but this type of activation is good for owners, because the lights come on, and agents and owners can bring people through the space,” Mr Druery said.
Students at Cairns State High School are documenting the project in a film.
Participants are responsible for their own utilities but don’t pay rent and are not tied into a six month lease.
“So an owner can say, well this space has been sitting vacant for 18 months, it might not attract any tenants for 12 months – so why not turn the lights on and open it up and give people the opportunity to improve activity in the CBD?” Mr Druery said.
“Maybe by small actions, change can be made, so you start with community.”
The project germinated in Newcastle 20 years ago when that regional city experienced a downturn, and it is credited with transforming a city with an industrial past into a vibrant place.
Mayor Bob Manning said Renew Cairns would generate activity through occupancy and could help people trial their business, project or ideas in a commercial setting.
“By working with property owners to activate vacant or under-utilised commercial spaces, Renew Cairns can generate activity through occupancy,” Cr Manning said.
Email at renewcairns@renewaustralia.org
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Originally published as Cairns business: Renewal project set to inject vibrancy into CBD
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