Shoppers spoilt for choice

There’s no need to leave Geelong to go shopping, the range is as good as anywhere – that’s the message from the Central Geelong Marketing Committee. In fact, for committee chairman Mark Davis and his wife, who have their home in Ballarat, Geelong is their preferred shopping destination.

“My wife loves to come to Geelong to go shopping,” Mr Davis says. “She prefers it to Melbourne because the range is just as good, it’s easier to get in and out of and it doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of central Melbourne.”

The size of the retail sector in the Geelong region is reflected in the $2.4 billion of retail spending annually by Geelong region residents, according to the City of Greater Geelong’s 2006 retail strategy. The report also forecasts robust opportunities for retail expansion in the region due to expected continuing growth in population and retail spending.

Mr Davis says the expansion of Westfield in 2008 has been the largest change to retail in central Geelong and is bringing more people into the city centre. The new-look Westfield Centre represents an investment of $200 million and includes more than 170 outlets.

“There has also been great development at Corio Shopping Centre and Waurn Ponds as well as the boutique shopping area of Pakington Street in West Geelong,” he says.

The 20-year-old Market Square shopping centre in central Geelong is also investing, with a $5 million upgrade to its food court.

Centre manager Sandy Kelly-Burton says the redevelopment, which started in September 2008 and is expected to be completed in June, would provide eight food outlets as well as new public facilities and a parents’ room.

Market Square has 90 tenants, including services such as Centrelink, Medicare and Medibank Private as well as a range of fashion, homewares and electrical retailers and the department store Harris Scarfe.

Ms Kelly-Burton says retailers have to be positive in these tough economic times and welcomes the Central Geelong Marketing Committee’s efforts to attract people to central Geelong, such as sidewalk sales on Melbourne Cup Day.

While central Geelong offers a complete range of retail outlets, residents and visitors have many other shopping options, such as the Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre and Corio Shopping Centre. The large Waurn Ponds Shopping Centre has recently been expanded with 42 new speciality stores and there are plans for further expansion to cater for the Armstrong Creek development.