What are business precincts?
Business precincts are centres of economic activity, located in suburbs across Victoria. They typically include a variety of businesses – from retail and hospitality through to professional and health services. They may also be referred to as activity centres or business districts.
These areas provide a central location for local businesses, help create jobs and bring communities together.
Shaping business precincts
Business precincts grow and change through planning and investments in visitor experiences that encourage people to stay and spend time in the precinct.
Traders, business associations, local councils and the community all play a part in shaping these precincts and making them vibrant and enjoyable places.
Urban planners and local councils will often refer to placemaking when discussing precinct activation. This is another way of referring to projects that will attract visitors, increase trade and create vibrant, thriving community spaces.
What can traders, business associations and local councils do to boost a precinct?
By working together, business precincts can be even more successful.
Business owners
Business owners are at the heart of a precinct’s vitality. By offering quality products and services, they draw customers, create jobs and contribute to the area's overall appeal.
Business owners can help activate a precinct and attract visitors by:
- promoting their business and its offerings
- maintaining welcoming and well-designed shopfronts
- participating in or sponsoring local events
- providing feedback to local councils and business associations on plans to improve the area.
Local councils
Local councils play a key role in planning and servicing business precincts, engaging with local businesses, associations and the community.
Councils help activate precincts in many ways including:
- investing in public spaces, such as street furniture, greenery and pedestrian paths, to make the precinct more inviting and accessible
- collaborating with local businesses and associations to share information, agree placemaking priorities and deliver improvements
- supporting activities and events that attract visitors to the area
- providing a range of municipal services, including information collection, local waste management and cleaning services.
Business associations
Business associations bring businesses together and represent their interests.
They contribute to the vibrancy and activation of precincts by:
- building trusted relationships with diverse businesses in the area
- maintaining positive relationships with local councils and other stakeholders
- showcasing the area’s unique offerings, promoting businesses and organising activities and events to attract visitors
- hosting business networking events, training sessions and workshops
- identifying opportunities and addressing challenges to help businesses grow.