Muswellbrook Shire Council and Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry have joined forces in a bid to revamp the CBD and attract new businesses to the area.

A CBD strategic plan was developed and released earlier in the year, focusing on infrastructure improvements and business development initiatives.

Chamber president Mike Kelly said the as part of its responsibilities, the chamber had contracted a Sydney consultant to develop a township marketing plan, which was funded equally by the chamber and the Department of State and Regional Development.

“That plan is on the chamber website and part of that is an analysis of the shopping mix and identification of gaps or opportunities,” Mr Kelly said.

The consultant’s report found retail businesses were under-represented in Bridge Street.

“The main street has many more service providers than would be expected for a town of its size,” the report said.

“However, there are less fashion, gift, homewares and browsing shops than would be expected for a main street that services a community of 16,000 residents.

“The main street obviously started as the hub of the community and originally would have been the meeting place for locals doing their day-to-day shopping.

“As the malls have taken over the role of providing the day-to-day shopping needs there has been a migration of retailers to the malls, which has left the CBD heavy with service businesses and a decreased number of retail outlets.”

The report said in many communities these gaps would be filled by cafes, browsing outlets and operators “with new and interesting retail concepts”.

“This has not happened in Muswellbrook at this stage,” the report said.

Mr Kelly said beautification works in the main street had already begun, with the post office and arts centre being painted and a number of businesses taking up the council’s offer to contribute towards painting work.