A REVAMP of late-night shopping is hoped to provide businesses with a boost in the weeks leading up to Christmas.
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Wagga councillors unanimously gave the nod at last night's council meeting for main street businesses to trial Friday night shopping beginning next week.
Businesses on Fitzmaurice and Baylis streets have also been given more freedom to use footpaths for dining, seating, goods displays and decorations in an effort to create a festive atmosphere for late-night trading.
Wagga Business Chamber's Serena Hardwick, speaking at Monday night's meeting, said that businesses wanted a "Christmas on Main" event but, working in line with COVID-19 restrictions, Friday night shopping was the next best thing to create the desired atmosphere.
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"We believe this will provide a similar outcome of what the Christmas on Main event was designed to achieve in creating an atmosphere that is COVID-19 compliant," she said.
"It would be more conducive of people working in the central activity district to stay in the main street on that night and support not only retail, but local hospitality who have also been experiencing a decline on that Friday night entertainment."
Wagga councillor Rod Kendall said, too often, people fall into the same old patterns and accept the process because it is how things have been done for years.
"This is about the council supporting a concentrated trial to encourage people to go down and utilise local businesses in this most important time, which is the lead up to Christmas," he said.
Cr Vanessa Keenan, likewise, said the council needs to be "responsive and nimble" when proposals such as this arise. She said the council needs to help businesses and the community adapt to help support the retail and hospitality sector in the central business district.
Cr Tim Koschel said the council needs to focus on "putting life back into the main street" particularly during a year where businesses have been suffering even more so.
Cr Dallas Tout said he supports any measures to make it easier for businesses to further their opportunities in the current environment.
Although, Cr Tout said it was important that businesses who prefer trading on the traditional Thursday night could still do so during this trial period.
But Cr Dan Hayes said it is key for businesses on the main street, as well as the shopping centres, to take up the proposal together rather than splitting late-night shopping across two days.
Cr Paul Funnell said the proposal is "a massive step in the right direction," but it is an ongoing process. He said the council needs to encourage all opportunities.