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Main Streets at a Crossroad: Experiences From Australia Forum Webinar Summary
How can main streets adapt and thrive in changing times? This OECD Local Development Forum webinar, delivered in partnership with Mainstreet Australia, examines the challenges and policy responses shaping Victoria’s 698 main streets. Discover why these vital community hubs – home to diverse retail, hospitality and service businesses within 10km of 90% of Victorians – matter beyond economic development. Explore key insights on supporting main streets as essential social infrastructure, learn from international perspectives, and understand the collaborative approaches needed to ensure these important precincts continue serving their communities effectively.
Report & Summary: Our Gathering Places Under Threat
Mainstreet Australia’s 2022 advocacy report, Our Gathering Places Under Threat, presented an urgent call to action as Victorian main streets faced a critical crossroads. Despite renewed community interest in local living post-COVID-19, vacancy rates reached 20% in some areas amid mounting business pressures. The report outlined a comprehensive partnership vision between main street businesses and the Victorian Government, identifying five priority areas essential to sustainability. With Victoria’s 698 main streets employing 390,000 people and generating over $50 billion annually, this advocacy plan demonstrates how collaborative action can protect these vital community hubs and realise thriving 20-minute neighbourhoods.