Picture: BROOKE LITTLEWOOD
LOCAL business owners have welcomed Wattle Range Council’s proposal to open a new office at the Millicent and District Community Club site, claiming it would “bring more foot traffic” into Davenport Street.
Shearer’s Cook Cafe proprietor Melissa Armfield told The South Eastern Times council’s proposed upgrade was “fantastic” and would make good use of what is currently a vacant space.
“Even if they do knock it down and build again, there is car parking, it is central for everyone to get to and its close to everything,” she said.
“As a business owner, I think it is fantastic because there is more foot traffic, there are more people in the area.
“I am all for it, I think it is amazing and it will bring more of an atmosphere to Davenport Street.”
Meanwhile, Millicent Business Community Association chairperson Lee Morgan said business confidence could only improve in the town if existing building infrastructure, like the Community Club, was utilised.
“This is likely to have a flow on effect resulting in increased people activity within the business area,” he said.
“The existing large Community club building was a significant investment in the town and makes a lot of sense for it to be utilised, especially as there is room for car parking.
“The association understands the current offices are too small and this creates administration inefficiencies together with work, health and safety issues.
“We are sure that council will determine through a cost benefit analysis on the options for retrofitting the community club building in the centre of the town, together with a greenfield site that maybe further out of the business district.”
Following last Tuesday’s monthly meeting council announced it would spend up to $50,000 to investigate whether or not to spend $3.5m within the next five years for the new office.
After debating for close to an hour, elected members voted in favour of examining the suitability of the community club and also supported the $3.5m allocation to council’s 10-year financial plan for design and construction processes at the site.
