Is Bunbury's CBD doomed?

Bunbury retailers are scrambling to come up with ideas to bring shoppers back to the CBD with many fearing the expansion of nearby shopping centres could further affect trade.

Most shopkeepers and business owners spoken to by the South Western Times have called on retailers to work collectively and for Bunbury City Council to become involved in strategies to ‘‘save the CBD’’.

They agreed while downturns were seasonal, trade in the shopping precinct was down and the once thriving Victoria Street had lost its ‘‘buzz’’.

Misha’s Gallery shopkeeper Jess Woodfield said businesses on Stephen Street were doing it tough.

‘‘I know a few businesses have considered closing,’’ she said.

‘‘It’s been really bad, I don’t know a reason personally but people are saying that no one wants to spend and that people are trying to save.’’

EcoChix owner Zena Hotker said retailers needed to work collectively to promote the CBD and the council should be leading the charge to put Bunbury back on the map.

‘‘One thing I’ve noticed is the amount of ‘for lease’ signs happening around the CBD, there have been quite a few shops that have closed down,’’ she said.

‘‘We should be working with the council or the chamber of commerce or something; we need to do something, anything to make the CBD into the centre of shopping.’’

Cr Wayne Major wants an accord between business owners and industry bodies that will protect the shopping precinct and ensure its future viability.

He successfully lodged a motion at Tuesday’s council meeting for the Bunbury Chamber of Commerce and Industries, councillors, council staff and other interested parties to hold a meeting to gain better knowledge of the concerns of retailers.

‘‘To me the CBD is near enough to dead,’’ Cr Major said.

Sport First proprietor Gary Kohlmann refuted claims the business district was dying and said trade in Bunbury was continually growing.

‘‘I don’t actually see it going backwards at all, in our opinion we have much less quiet times in town than we used to,’’ he said.

‘‘I don’t think there’s a problem at all to be honest with the CBD or with Bunbury generally, it’s getting busier all the time.’’