Doers, Don't We Need Them

Who remembers the corner store? Selling basic grocery lines, drinks, ice-blocks, and lollies by the packet. You got to know the owner(s) name and them yours, along with what lollies you liked. They seemed to be on every 4th corner. In my old neighbourhood I can remember 6 corner stores, within just an 800 odd metre radius of the family home.

Some corner stores still exist, as a small convenience store or burger bar, with some grocery essentials. Some have been repurposed into other businesses; cafes, hair and beauty salons or professional offices. While others are now private residences, or were just demolished, perhaps to make way for a new home, shop, or office.

None of the 6 in my old neighbourhood, exist now as a typical corner store.

Fundamentally, corner stores became a victim to larger supermarkets (with the accompanying shopping centre). Along with other neighbourhood businesses, like the butcher, newsagent, barber, fish and chip shop, that once were within walking or a short bike ride distance. Micro-businesses, family run or owner operated.?

Now that supermarkets are supposedly starting to get on the nose, (well, the 2 major ones), could the corner store make a comeback?

Generally, no, but as working from home, home schooling and road congestion increases, selective opportunities will present themselves. However, more neighbourhood businesses, could, with the right encouragement, once again frequent greater parts of suburbia. (Arguably, this trend has already started in some communities.)

Not necessarily on a corner block, or even visible to the passer-by. It might be a 100% digital business, hidden amongst the work from home employees and the visible work from home businesses.

Hidden from Council regulations and charges, higher insurance premiums and potential capital gains tax. Even hidden from the landlord.

These legitimate ‘hidden’ businesses, (along with other micro-businesses), need to be encouraged, not necessarily to physically be visible, but to grow and multiply.

The Councils that do, will have a much better chance of developing, retaining and attracting the doers.

Doers; they are people, like those who started the corner shop (amongst other business endeavors), entrepreneurial, innovative, creative, inspiring people. People prepared to have a go. Essential for each community, in making it more dynamic, vibrant, sustainable, and attractive, for like people to move to.

The very type of people our Federal and State (Queensland) Government want to leave the regions to go the south east corner of the state, with a $100 million carrot, the goal, bring high paying, high tech jobs to South East Queensland.

The SEQ Innovation Economy Fund, (not Queensland, SEQ,) has a $50 million commitment from each the federal and state governments to develop innovation infrastructure. “We want to help grow South East Queensland’s innovation economy,” said Jenny McAllister, Federal Minister for Cities. Just to add more vinegar to the straining stitches just keeping Queensland as one state, she adds, “investing in future technologies and industries will drive innovation, create more high value jobs opportunities and make South East Queensland an even more exciting place to work and live.”

I am sure it will. How can regional and rural communities stimulate, retain, and hopefully attract the doers? People necessary to help their communities to be more exciting place to work and live.

By doing something themselves, not expecting much help from the state or federal government!

Residential, micro-business blended land developments; estates specially designed to attract those that wish to operate a micro-business from home and/or build a purpose-built shop/office for their business idea. These could be part of the solution, in retaining and attracting doers.

A step forward from land developments having open green spaces, community pool and activity centre.

Blended residential/business land developments where fibre to premises internet connection is standard, randomly placed casual meeting areas are on pedestrian friendly walking/bike tracks throughout the estate, secured large mailboxes are in a central location with easy courier truck access, street libraries, clerical support is within a coffee shop, there is a multi-purpose community hall, along with a common secured parking area for caravans and trailers, community garden, plus upcycling drop-off workshop.?

These features would set the development apart from others. Features that encourage networking, collaboration, mutual support, innovation, new ideas to flourish; all conducive for micro-businesses to grow and multiply. After all, a 100% digital business can nearly operate from anywhere, why not a regional or rural community, away from the congestion of south east Queensland.?

Can regional and rural Councils make this kind of development attractive for developers?

As there is more to be gained, than just additional rate and excess water charge revenue. And, arguably, offers a more long-term sustainable platform, than chasing a big business with enticements to relocate (especially without access to tax payer funded cash buckets like the SEQ Innovation Economy Fund).

These blended estates, do not necessarily have to be new land developments. It could be a way of reinvigorating some tired parts of a town, perhaps even a whole town, ultimately improving the rateable value. And, more importantly, the resident’s standard of living.

Remembering when corner shops were common, like mini community hubs, where neighbours met, talked, found out what was going on, may prove beneficial in us planning how regional and rural towns can survive, and hopefully sustainably thrive, in the future.????

#RegionalQueensland #innovation #community #RealEstate #Government