Greater Shepparton City Council Manager Investment Attraction Geraldine Christou said “There are currently 70 shops vacant within the defined CBD area, which is down 12 shops from the last audit conducted at the end of August 2014, where 82 vacancies were recorded.”
“The streets with the greatest change in vacancy rates were High Street and Wyndham Street,” said Ms Christou. “The drop in the vacancy rate at this time of the year is similar to what has occurred in previous years.”
“The lowering of the vacancy rates indicates confidence in Shepparton as a retail precinct,” said Ms Christou. “This is particularly pleasing as the Renew Shepparton initiative, a collaborative campaign between Council, Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Shepparton Show Me and the Committee for Greater Shepparton, is scheduled to commence soon.”
Renew is a national social enterprise designed to catalyse community renewal, economic development, the arts and creative industries across Australia. Renew Australia works with communities and property owners to take otherwise empty shops, offices, commercial and public buildings and use them to incubate short-term use by artists, creative projects and community initiatives.
Ms Christou encouraged everyone to support our local business community by venturing out and experiencing the festive atmosphere that exists in our own municipality and shopping locally.
