This week The Inland See has been booked out for a presentation by the Todd Mall Traders.
The Todd Mall Traders represent a host of local businesses that work hard to keep our Mall vibrant and engaging for visitors and locals alike.
With Alice Springs in the middle of many big infrastructure planning processes and a significant Alice Springs Town Council community consultation ongoing (i.e. for the further spending of the $20 Million CBD Revitalisation Fund), it’s a great time it’s a learning more about various ideas and visions for the town’s future.
(Concerning the Council’s CBD planning process, it is understood that there are presently 3 possible alternatives for the mall’s redevelopment and these visions will be presented back to the community next year for further feedback. More info here.)
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“There’s so many possibilities for the future direction of our town right now and we all know the Todd Mall is our Town Square: the Heart and Soul of our town. It is a very exciting time of change – but we’re a bit worried that there is too much focus on putting a roadway through the mall”, says Sophie Marriot, Business owner in the Mall.
“Earlier in the year, a host of Todd Mall Traders all got together with the hope that our voices will not get lost in the many planning processes that are going on right now. Whatever happens next will define the nature and space of our CBD for decades to come.”
“A majority of business owners are in agreement: we don’t want to see the Mall turned into a road. It’d cost a lot of money ($20 Million +) and take a long time to get done. It’s an additional stress that I don’t think businesses are keen to take on – and would likely produce a result that very few support. Hopefully that message has reached our decision makers clearly.”
“But also, looking beyond the road issue and at other ways the money can be spent intelligently, is our focus. Traders have got some great ideas that came out of our visioning sessions. We want to keep these ideas on the agenda and want to build momentum with the community.
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In addition to building community support for visions that don’t include turning the Todd Mall into a Road, Traders have a range of ideas that they are hoping to build further including:
+ shade sails
+ interactive media points
+ focused development of the walkway between the mall and the connection to Yiprinya Plaza, including stage and water play zone.
+ water misters.
+ bicycle lock up sheds.
+ information directories at key ingress and egress points
+ refurbishment and curated activation of the mall’s lights projectors with dedicated times for particular shows.
+ And Much More…
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Representative Sophie Marriot will be available each day this week between 9.30 and 10.30am.
Come down and share your feedback, suggest new ideas or express interest in:
supporting the campaign.
building momentum around particular initiatives of the vision