Subiaco businesses have sent a clear signal to the state government with their overwhelming support for extended trading hours in the area.
Subiaco businesses have sent a clear signal to the state government with their overwhelming support for extended trading hours in the area.
A survey of almost 100 Subiaco retail business, conducted by the Subiaco Business Association, found that 100 per cent of businesses surveyed supported the idea of Subiaco being classed as a ‘tourism precinct’. This would allow businesses to open from noon to 6pm on Sundays and an additional hour during the week.
Of those business surveyed, 60 per cent do not currently open on Sundays, however 66 per cent of those businesses would consider extending their trading hours if Subiaco was made a tourism precinct.
When the number of businesses that already open is combined with those indicating in the survey an intention to do so, the association says 79 per cent of Subiaco businesses would trade on Sundays if restrictions were removed.
The survey comes after Tourism Minister Sheila McHale earlier this year flagged Subiaco as a possible candidate for tourism precinct status.
Subiaco Business Association president Steve McQuillan said the association was encouraged by the minister’s comments and used the opportunity to quantify local business support for the proposal.
“We didn’t expect 100 per cent for the first question, but we thought it would be very high,” Mr McQuillan told WA Business News.
“We were also encouraged by businesses who don’t currently open on Sundays who would consider.”
He said most of the respondents who indicated they would not consider opening on Sundays if given the option were smaller, owner-operator type business who were less inclined to hire extra staff.
“My thoughts are, once the smaller businesses see the area open up and become more vibrant, they will consider opening,” Mr McQuillan said.
“Once the larger businesses who are now restricted are able to open, they will populate the streets enough to make the smaller ones more inclined to jump on board.”
The shire is currently in the process of submitting a formal application to the minister’s office which, along with Tourism Western Australia, will review the city’s case.
