THE City of Casey will work with High Street Cranbourne traders in the lead-up to this year’s GP Run to help rev up business.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, Mayor Amanda Stapledon called on the council to do more in terms of assisting local businesses to gain maximum exposure and profit from the event.
The Cranbourne GP Run is one of the biggest events on Casey’s social calendar and attracts thousands of people to the Cranbourne CBD.
Cr Stapledon said what led her to the call was seeing a number of businesses along High Street closed when the Moto GP wave-off took place in October.
“It was staggering,” she said.
“Surely this is the perfect opportunity for maximum business exposure and for revenue.
“It’s the opportunity of the year.”
The council resolved on Tuesday night for officers and interested councillors to hold a forum six months prior to the event to outline the format of the event, discuss the opportunities and responsibilities and to explore how council can support the local traders leading up to and on the day.
The Cranbourne Chamber of Commerce, High Street and other interested traders would be invited along.
Council officers will also continue to engage with traders leading up to the event to provide any necessary support or assistance they may require.
“Maybe we need to take on a lead role in working out a way for businesses to gain maximum benefit from the event,” Cr Stapledon.
“The event is a wonderful way to showcase the great businesses we have in Cranbourne and council needs to help with that process.
“We also want to hear from businesses about how the events team can help promote what they are doing.”
The Olive Tree Espresso Bar and Kitchen owner Caroline Lazzara, who opened on the day, said she couldn’t understand why businesses didn’t open.
“We have opened the past two years and it’s highly profitable,” she said.
“What we made in a couple of hours is what we would usually make in a few days.
“We did a couple of quick deals with breakfast and a coffee so people could be in and out and we were completely packed.”
Ms Lazzara said she did believe the council could do more though to help businesses.
“We have a few ideas,” she said.
“The council didn’t really dress up the street, it was a bit lacklustre.
“There also wasn’t a great deal of signage and we didn’t receive anything like posters to promote the event.
“There also wasn’t much in the way of encouraging people to stay around after the wave-off.
“It would be good if there was more to get people to stay and have lunch and have a look at shops.”
Ms Lazzara said she welcomed the move by the council and said it would help them work together more for mutual benefit.
