Getting down to business. Positively.

Over the course of the election, a number of Marlborough residents have voiced their concern about the future of Blenheim’s CBD.

A vibrant CBD is a valuable asset for any town or city, and it’s fantastic to read about local retailers investing in the future of their businesses by moving to and expanding in new premises within the CBD.

The CBD isn’t dead. To say it is, is degrading the hard work that every retailer and each of their local staff are doing every day to attract customers and sustain their businesses.

With the enormous growth in online shopping and advances in technology, changes in shopper behaviour, and companies’ own business and financial objectives (particularly chain stores, where decisions are made at head office and are out of local managers’ control), the CBD environment is naturally changing.

This is something that needs to be understood, embraced and supported by all – not critiqued by Council or Mayoral candidates as an abject singular failure of Council – particularly for some, a Council they’ve been a part of for many years.

A successful CBD isn’t one that’s driven by Council policy. It’s one where retailers and hospitality providers have compelling reasons and offers for people to want to go to their stores, where customer service is exactly that – service; where commercial landlords are attracting and retaining high-quality sustainable businesses, where Council is managing and maintaining infrastructure, and where each and every one of us spend quality time browsing, shopping, relaxing, living and socialising.

Council is one party at the CBD table, and has been working positively with the Blenheim Business Association and Marlborough Chamber of Commerce over the past three years to understand retail issues and commit to infrastructure enhancements within the CBD environment.

Positive progress takes commitment and innovation from all parties – not just one – and the wider community of Marlburian shoppers also needs to be a part of what Blenheim’s changing CBD will look like and deliver in the future.

Already, plans are being actioned by investors to grow the CBD’s accommodation offering. This should enhance visitor foot traffic and drive future demand for hospitality businesses. I fully support the moves by some retailers to support and showcase local talent, and hope that more can be done in this space – to proudly champion local suppliers and craftspeople.

A number of businesses, including those in today’s Marlborough Express article, are seeing opportunities and are embracing change positively by proudly investing in and committing to the future of their businesses – and Blenheim’s CBD.

Council has committed to a new library and gallery in its long-term plan. This will be a key foundation in the CBD, attracting foot traffic and vibrancy in the town centre. The newly-elected Council will also weigh up an initiative to provide an hour’s free parking in the CBD.

Initiatives like these can’t be considered as one-off sticky plasters, however. The bigger question for Council, retailers, commercial landlords, investors and the community to continually understand and collectively address, is what aspects and qualities will make Blenheim’s CBD a truly unique and desirable destination to shop, with the goal of ensuring the commercial sustainability of all CBD stakeholders?

This isn’t a Council-only responsibility, though I’m passionate about ensuring it’s done right and that Council invests wisely in the CBD.

It’s up to all stakeholders to work together on the big picture and embrace the changing retail environment with positivity, vision and commitment, for issues to be identified and ironed out, and for the Marlborough community to proudly spend more time shopping and supporting local in our CBD.