The $17.5 million Monaro Street upgrade is well underway. Photo: Queanbeyan City Travel and Cruise Facebook.
Queanbeyan businesses have hit out at the closure of the town’s main thoroughfare.
Monaro Street has closed for six months for a major infrastructure project bringing upgrades to its medians, road surface, footpaths, pedestrian crossings, stormwater drainage and gutters.
Publican Anthony McDonald said he had already seen changes since the works began earlier this month.
He told Region his Royal Hotel had seen its “softest Friday I’ve had in probably 12 months”.
“That’s not a great sign, but I do note traffic flow about the CBD seems to be going OK … It might just be that consumers are just waiting to figure out their way into the CBD.”
But he said it would be hard to sort the ongoing impacts of the road closure from the other costs facing businesses.
“There are so many other things going on – like the fuel price [increases].
“I don’t think you can underestimate the impact that is going to have on the retail spend.
“It’s not like we’re in a laboratory and we can turn off the impact.”
Nearby restaurant owner Mishan said it had been harder getting people into his venue, with trade down by almost 50 per cent.
“People are cancelling bookings … The noise makes a difference – when they are excavating the concrete and using the jackhammer, that makes a lot of noise.
“When people want to go for a coffee or food, they want to relax.
“They don’t want to hear those noises.”
He said he was facing the possibility of laying off staff if trade didn’t pick up.
The closure is set to last for six months. Photo: Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council.
Mishan is calling for the council to step up its efforts to publicise businesses along the street through signage and other publicity.
“Let’s say, their logo and a few photos [should be in the advertising] … People can see it’s still open and operating.”
He also suggested support for business costs, such as rent.
Mr McDonald called on Queanbeyan residents to support businesses.
He said they would be relying on continued patronage from the community to help them through the “challenging times”.
“In fact, it’s probably more of a reason to work harder at being more relevant to the community.
“There’s another five months of challenging times, but we’ll just get on with it.”
In response to questions from Region, a council spokesperson said they were putting into place a series of measures.
They pointed to an ongoing marketing campaign to raise awareness of Monaro Street businesses, while April will see another round of the Shop and Win program (where any customer who spends $20 at an eligible CBD business will go into prize draws).
The first 50 vehicles parked at the Collett Street carpark from 8:30 am on Monday (23 March) to 3 April (weekdays only) will receive a free voucher worth $6.
QPRC has also partnered with POP Creative Collective, which audited eligible business shopfronts, and will provide $2000 towards implementation of improvements.
To visit Monaro Street over the coming months, pedestrian access will be possible along Monaro Street and the Queens Bridge.
QPRC has also installed three pedestrian crossings at the Crawford/Monaro streets intersection.
Motorists are being urged to avoid the CBD and use alternative routes along Yass Road (towards Pialligo Avenue and Canberra Airport) and Ellerton Drive (bypassing Queanbeyan towards Jerrabomberra), if possible.
Parking won’t be available on Monaro Street during construction.
