Survey identifies need to liven up nights in shopping strips

  • 2017-03-30
Moorabbin shoppers are keen to see more bars and cafes introduced along the shopping strip, according to a survey by Glen Eira Council.

About 2,100 people put forward their views in the survey, which a Council spokesman said was undertaken to help draft shopping strips for future generations throughout the Glen Eira Council area.

The desire for more bars and cafes was echoed for the shopping strip in Bentleigh where there was a call for additional evening destinations and a greater family friendly atmosphere including more greenery and places of activity after 5:00 pm.

A Council report stated that 19 per cent of people surveyed wanted to see more clothing boutiques while 20 per cent favoured an increase in vibrant restaurants, bars and cafes and a further 15 per cent wanted to see less nail salons and $2 shops.

Jochem den Boon, president of Bentleigh Traders Association, said retailers in the area also wanted to see `more quality stores’ which combined with marketing services could attract more shopper traffic.

He said venues such as restaurants would contribute greatly to livening up the shopping strip during the evenings.

The survey also revealed strong support for the removal or upgrade of the rotunda while two-thirds of those surveyed gave the nod to private development along the strip, subject to height controls.

Meanwhile, responders in McKinnon voiced a need for more variety in retail shops and additional greenery and the Ormond community cited a butcher shop, greenery and a library.