Moving the St John Street bus stops and redeveloping Civic Square as alternative community space, with a focus on activities for young people, were the key recommendations of a 2011 report into anti-social behaviour in Launceston’s CBD.
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The $10,000 study was commissioned by the city council and found 89 per cent of respondents had witness antisocial behaviour, such as offensive language, threats and shouting, during the previous year.
On Monday the council will again discuss if the bus stops at St John Street should be moved, after a petition from business owners was recently received.
When the survey was completed in 2011 the researchers said shoppers confirmed they would not go to St John Street after 2.30pm because of the youth located there.
“Shops in this area reported being very adversely affected by the large numbers of young people who gather on the bus stops from about 2.30pm onwards, with minimal business being conducted from mid-afternoon onwards,” the report said.
“This combined with the noise and fumes from the buses using these bus stops makes for a very difficult, and at times unpleasant shopping environment, and business owners are unsurprisingly very disgruntled about the situation.”
On Monday Alderman Ted Sands will ask his colleagues to further explore the possibility of moving the bus stops to Civic Square.
Cityprom has also echoed the sentiments of business owners and has called for a broader consultation process to be undertaken in respect to the location of the bus stops.
The organisation says its members were overwhelmingly in favour for the relocation of the bus stop, with attention being drawn to pedestrian access being limited during particular times of the day, the number of vacant shops, the length of time they have remained vacant and anti-social behaviour.
“It is clear that a number of business owners feel they haven't been consulted with adequately,” Cityprom executive officer Steve Henty said.
“With the CBD undergoing a once in a generation revitalisation, it’s important that we are seeking optimal and long-term solutions.
“The decision process has to be robust, not only taking into consideration the issues raised by business owners, but factoring in the opportunity costs of having multiple empty shop-fronts in a prime area of the city.”
Cityprom called on the council to further investigate the “number of alternatives put forward” for a bus stop relocation, including Civic Square, Paterson Street and an off-street solution utilising the carpark behind the Myer building.
A further study into the CBS bus interchange was conducted by Pitt and Sherry in 2014 which both Alderman Sands and Cityprom said should be reviewed.
Holly Monery
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
Holly Monery is a journalist for The Examiner newspaper, based in Launceston, Tasmania. Her main area of focus is local government.
