Baylis Street needs a spruce up, say worried retailers

Busy shoppers rushing along the main street might not notice the deteriorating infrastructure with a quick glance, but shopkeepers taking a closer look are worried the retail hub is rapidly losing its "wow factor", credited with bringing new businesses to the strip.

"It's looking tired," the owner of Cartridge World, Greg Breust, said.

"As a retailer, if the main street is attractive, it attracts people."

Among the maintenance issues pointed out to The Daily Advertiser are:

– Dull, dirty, worn, cracked and lifting pavers;

– Chipped and rotting timber on tables and seats;

– Rusting metal bollards and peeling paint;

– Broken garbage bin surrounds;

– Graffiti on light poles that also are suffering from paint peeled off by people sticky-taping entertainment posters on them;

– Cobwebs on drinking fountains;

– Tarnished Walk of Honour plaques;

– Crumbling public art.

Council responded to the concerns with a statement by general manager Phil Pinyon.

"Council is aware that Baylis Street is the front door to the city and needs to be presented and maintained to a high standard," the statement said.

"This key precinct has been given consideration recently by council's elected representatives and staff and is recognised as being important to our community and visitors.

"The presentation of Baylis Street is a priority and council is currently looking at funding opportunities to undertake renewal works to improve the overall maintenance and aesthetics of the street."

The poor state of much of the public art in the main street is striking.

Water fountains have not worked for years.

They are gathering dust, cobwebs and rubbish.

A tile seat made by artists Kim and John Barter and Steve Williams on the western side of Baylis Street just north of Forysth Street is chipped badly and has "silly string" sprayed on parts of the structure.

On the other side of the street, a tile snakes and ladders artwork laid into the footpath is dirty and a number of tiles are broken or missing.

At the same time these artworks are deteriorating badly, council's current three-year public art plan includes spending $827,000 on new art.

"All the hard work council did was terrific, but it has just not been looked after," said Greg Howick, who was a member of a main street upgrade advisory committe in the late 1990s.

"It's so annoying it has been let go."

"It's not a good look," the owner of Aussie Disposals, David Harmer, said, pointing out that a vandalised tree guard near his store had not been replaced and water pools near the front of his store after rain.

Mr Harmer and Mr Breust acknowledged the pavers were swept regularly by council and shrubs were trimmed.

"They do a good job with the gardening, but it's not just about cleaning (the street); it's about regular maintenance," Mr Harmer said.

"Council should have a look at it and start a plan to maintain the street better," Mr Breust said.

"It just needs a freshen up."