General News
13 May, 2025
Mission to lure new businesses to CBD
MAREEBA Chamber of Commerce is on a mission to attract new businesses to the town’s CBD after two large shops closed in March, bringing the total number of empty shops in the main street to 13.
Chamber president Joe Moro told a recent luncheon that a story published in The Express on 26 March revealing how many shops were empty had brought the matter “to a head”.
The organisation subsequently held a meeting with Mareeba Shire Council to discuss the situation, and how a planned upgrade of the CBD may help attract new business.
Council was given a $2.1 million grant earlier this year to develop a blueprint for the CBD upgrade which will include everything from stormwater improvements to seating and lighting. The chamber will play a major role in providing input to the plan.
“We suggested that we needed to focus on attracting new businesses because my concern is that once you lose key shops, people have another reason not to shop in the area which has a knock-on effect,” Mr Moro said.
“The timing to attract new businesses is good – I think the main street is struggling a bit, we’d like it to look better than what it is, not to complain about the council, but I think generally, the blueprint comes into play.
“The two bigger shops closing is not good, but we can’t just sit there and say ‘it’s no good, we’re not going to do anything’.”
Mr Moro said at this stage there was no action plan but it is expected it will include marketing Mareeba as a great place to invest.
“The suggestion was to form a working group of sorts to try and help attract businesses back into Mareeba as an effort by the chamber and the council,” he said.
“People who want to invest in the area always want to talk with the Mayor.
“The chamber is also working on a new webpage to promote Mareeba Industrial Park and the airport (industrial park) and that it is a great place to live and the like, and we’re not far away from getting that completed.”
When it comes to the retail sector, Mr Moro said Mareeba was “in a bit of a bad spot – with Atherton, considered to be retail capital of the region, and Smithfield only a 45-minute drive away”.
Asked what type of businesses the chamber would like to see in the CBD, Mr Moro said a basic women’s fashion retailer would be welcome after Rockmans and Rivers closed down in March.
“If I was to pick one, I think a basic women’s fashion retailer would be popular – especially a reasonably priced place, because we only have K-Hub and it’s a bit limited, and we have Sonlia (more upmarket fashion),” he said.
“We do have two telecommunication shops, there was a time when we didn’t have one, so that’s good. ANZ shut down four years ago but at least Mareeba has been able to retain the other big banks while some regional centres have lost them.
“We could consider directly approaching specific chains, but we will have to look at some data and get more information on the table before we decide exactly what we will do.
“I expect the economy will open up again after the election, and interest rates are set to drop again this month.”
He said he was also interested in taking forward an idea to fill empty shop windows with imagery of the shire’s best attractions and events like Savannah in the Round and the Mareeba Rodeo.
“Obviously the owner of the building would have to agree but it would generate a good vibe in the CBD,” Mr Moro said.
One area the chamber is promoting strongly is the use of “Shop Local” gift cards, with around 20 local businesses involved.
“Gift cards are a stimulation to get people buying at local businesses,” he said.
“The idea is to get the gift cards into people’s thinking, so they will consider buying the Mareeba card instead of others (like Coles, Woolworths).
“We are using them as prizes for events like the Wheelbarrow Race, because then they have to spend the money in Mareeba.”
Cards can be redeemed at Bellezza Beauty Bar, Blundell’s Classic Ford Museum, Brunos Batteries, Cape Gateway Motel, Claude Cater Mensland, Golden Drop Winery, Marama Jewellery, Mareeba Heritage Centre, Mareeba Leagues Club, Moro Auto Repairs, Outback Solar and Outdoors, Piagnos News, Priceline Pharmacy, TGT, Mareeba Nextra, Ida Portella Travel, The Express and QITE.
