Northam businesses in focus as retailers struggle nationally

Shire of Northam chief executive officer Jason Whiteaker said his team was attempting to visualise what Fitzgerald Street and the surrounding area would look like in five to 10 years time.

"We're mindful of the fact that retail is struggling right across Australia," he said.

"Because retail is struggling, we are doing things to support it.

"There's not too many levers we can pull, but we're doing a fair bit."

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He said they realigned a Shire of Northam staff member's role to work more with local businesses.

Mr Whiteaker said the Shire have removed business fees for alfresco dining, in an attempt to "activate" the main street.

"If someone is driving down the street or walking past and they see more activation, they are more likely to stop and become involved themselves," he said.

"We are really encouraging alfresco dining."

To support this, Mr Whiteaker said the Commercial Hotel had been allocated two parking bays in front of the premise and Cafe Yasou had benefited from the realignment of Fitzgerald Street in February.

"That was one of the primary drivers for the realignment to allow more access to alfresco," he said.

"We are trying to make it easier for these types of places to push out and engage more with the community."

Mr Whiteaker said the Dome would also have the opportunity to have alfresco dining at the front of the building.

The Shire has also trialed activities on a Friday night in the town centre, including live music.

"Over a month we put a band on to support local eateries," he said.

"It was very low key and low cost, but it worked really well.

"We're trying to show what can be done.

"From our point of view, we hope businesses pick that up, but it's a bit more difficult in the winter."

Mr Whiteaker said over the past three months, the Shire gathered rent prices across the CBD and shared the results with property owners.

"We tried to highlight if there were people who were asking too much, and if some buildings that were vacant were asking for too much in rent," he said.

"That's actually been quite effective by engaging and sharing facts."

Mr Whiteaker said the Shire was attempting to connect the new shopping precinct with the CBD.

"We are trying to make it easier to connect from a pedestrian point of view, but also from a visual perspective," he said.

Mr Whiteaker said the Shire was interested in the public's opinion on what was missing from the CBD.

"At the end of the day it belongs to the community and we want it to be a vibrant place," he said.

"We're proactive in identifying gaps in the CBD."

Avon Valley Toyota managing director Leonie Knipe said the CBD was still "very flat".

"I believe the CBD is fractured by the spread of retail with the new shopping precinct," she said.

"I'd be asking the community to try whenever possible to keep their shopping local and asking the Shire to continue or hasten plans to beautify the CBD with a goal to making it a space that people want to spend time in."

Ms Knipe said the alfresco dining spaces have been a positive for the town.

"I love what the alfresco dining has done with Café Yasou," she said.

"The space in front of Lucy's is currently not very appealing possibly because of the construction work next door or the fact that it looks like a cluttered footpath rather than a nice space to eat and drink.

"I think the CBD could definitely benefit with more alfresco dining spaces."

Avon Community Development Foundation chief executive officer Paul Tomlinson said the economic climate for Northam retailers was "concerning and flat" but acknowledged the struggle was widespread.

"If it's available locally, shop local and save on the 'down the hill' fuel and time," he said.

"Local small business is the backbone of our rural existence.

"Small business keeps this town and shire alive and relevant, enabling employment, education, recreation, medication, hospitalisation and aged care.

"We're working on attracting more employee-number industries and businesses."