Garema Place can breathe again, and so can its businesses. Photos: Ian Bushnell.
If there is one thing Garema Place businesses agree on it’s that they are glad the year-long upgrades finished in time for Christmas trading.
It’s only been about 10 days but businesses are optimistic that a safer, greener Garema Place will be worth the pain of the past year.
The works started in November 2024 and were beset with unforeseen issues with underground services that delayed completion but a last push with extra workers kept a City Renewal Authority promise to businesses that the job would be done before Christmas.
A few finishing touches remain with the planting and mulching of garden beds, art installation and adjustments to furniture continuing into January.
The major works included an even, accessible single-level pavement for easier pedestrian flow, better lighting, improved seating and outdoor dining spaces, and planting of deciduous trees and gardens for cooling in summer and sunshine in winter.
The goal was to create an open and versatile space that supports both special events and everyday activities, as well as draw people into the city and increase footfall.
Impact comics owner Mal Briggs says it’s been a tough year.
Redpath Shoes co-owner Poppy Vassiliotis said the space certainly looked better but the jury was still out on whether it would mean more foot traffic.
“If you ask me in six months’ time, then I’d have a more accurate answer if the foot traffic’s improved since all the fences have gone down and the upgrades,” she said.
“It looks beautiful, but as far as foot traffic goes, that’s yet to be seen.
Ms Vassiliotis said the space was more inviting with the seating and greenery, and safer without tripping hazards for the elderly.
“It’s just a nice, even, clean, look at the moment,” she said.
Impact Comics owner Mal Briggs appreciates the extra greenery but he’s looking forward to more being added along with extra furniture to help fill the space and absorb the harsh summer light.
“There’s big patches that are really exposed to the weather, very exposed to the sun on days like today, and the light finish on all the ground is just bouncing that light around,” he said.
New furniture for diners and a safer, even surface.
Mr Briggs said the picnic tables with umbrellas were wonderful but they were being left to businesses to open in the morning.
“I go out there and put up the umbrellas myself,” he said. “It’s like they think things through to 75, 80 per cent of the way.”
It’s been a tough year for Garema Place businesses and Mr Briggs is unsure if his business will make up the losses incurred throughout the disruption, which went on longer than expected.
Government failed to acknowledge that businesses locked in to leases had to survive through these sorts of projects, and deserved more concrete support than a performative consultation, he said.
“I think we’re going to see the same thing happen with the Lyric Theatre, we’ve seen the same thing happen with construction of the tram,” Mr Briggs said.
“All of these things are great when they’re finished, but any sort of acknowledgement that there are people here using the space in the meantime seems to be pretty negligible.”
The expanse of light-coloured paving can promote glare, says Mr Briggs.
Mr Briggs said the ACT was missing a more localised layer of government, with Territory public servants out of touch with business needs.
He said it was now difficult to drive into the city and park, which was discouraging people from coming into Civic.
“Trying to create signals to encourage people to come into the city is a bigger job and I’m not sure that they’re quite putting in that sort of energy,” Mr Briggs said.
The Garema Place disruptions aren’t quite over because the new luxury hotel being built there won’t be completed until 2027.
But Mr Briggs said a hotel like that would be a wonderful neighbour to have.
The next job on the CRA list is improvements to City Walk, due to start in early January.
These include new paving and lighting from East Row to Ainslie Place, along with new lighting in Petrie Plaza.
