MAKING CBD SHOPPING SHINE DURING LIGHT RAIL CONSTRUCTION

Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance has announced a program to back CBD retailers in the lead up to Christmas with plans to maximise pedestrian space during the initial light rail construction period and encourage a range of promotional activities.

Plans include street lighting, banners, a nine metre high Christmas tree, ‘pop-up’ stores to promote local retailers, fashion parades and the closure of Market Street for the Boxing Day sales.

“The message for shoppers is that while George Street may close to general traffic between King and Market streets when key construction works get underway on October 23, the city will be very much open for business,” Mr Constance said.

CBD Coordinator General Marg Prendergast said Transport for NSW has been working with key business groups, the City of Sydney, Office of the Commissioner for Small Business and Retailers to develop the business activation plan in the lead up to Christmas.

“Our aim is to support and stimulate retail activity while this massive project to improve transport in the CBD is underway, and we are working with a number of partners to do that,” Ms Prendergast said.

“There will be disruption - we know that and we all need to plan for it - but we want to make sure that big and small retailers are successful in the lead up to Christmas, and we want to make sure that people still come into the city to shop.

“The city will remain a great place to visit and as much as businesses are understandably anxious about the impacts of construction I think shoppers will support them and we will do what we can to assist that outcome.”

“The full program will include pop-up retail stores, city ambassadors, gift wrapping stations, WIFI zones, live bands, fashion parades, face painting and digital Christmas card photo booths, street lighting, banners and the nine metre high Christmas tree.

The Christmas program will run from late October until Christmas with further business activation campaigns being planned for other sections of the route.