Shoppers lost to town heart

By Paul Dunlop
PEOPLE newly settled in Pakenham don’t always know how to get to Main Street.
It’s a problem traders say needs to be urgently addressed.
Pakenham Business Group president Michael Porter said he was shocked recently to be asked by a customer for directions to the town’s central business district.
“He had recently moved here, to Lakeside, and he did not know where the shopping centre was,” Mr Porter said.
“Some people just assume the Main Street is the Princes Highway. It makes you wonder how many people don’t know where the shops are.”
Mr Porter said more needed to be done to raise the town’s profile.
He and other traders have this week issued a call for more business operators to support efforts to promote Pakenham as a vibrant place to shop.
The fledgling business group, now in its second year, is seeking to ensure the town’s fastgrowing population does not overlook its shops.
“The town is developing, Pakenham is possibly the fastest growing town in Victoria,” Mr Porter said.
“There is an urgent need for traders to get together to work to make Pakenham the place to shop.
“We can’t just assume people will automatically shop locally. People coming through Pakenham along the highway may not even know we are here. We need more signage pointing people down to Main Street.”
Mr Porter said it was important traders continued to support the group, which was developing strong connections with police and Cardinia Shire to promote the town and its business district.
“Pakenham is possibly the fastest growing town in Victoria,” Mr Porter said. “There is an urgent need for traders to get together to work to make Pakenham the place to shop.
“We need to let people know we are here and we need to work together as a group so that we all prosper.”
Mr Porter said the past 12 months had seen the business group combine with council and police to address vandalism, street lighting and carparking.
He said the group would soon undertake a membership drive to the growing industrial areas on the outskirts of Pakenham.
To join the business group contact 5940 2727.