Boobs on Bikes potentially economic sabotage

Media release

Newmarket Business Association

Tuesday 19 August 2008

Untimely Boobs on Bikes potentially economic sabotage

Just when Queen Street’s image was getting back on track, Boobs on Bikes is single handedly dragging it down which will ultimately cost the CBD and benefit only its competitors, claims Queen Street’s number one rival Newmarket.

Tomorrow Boobs on Bikes will take place down Queen Street following a legal wrangling.

“The two-year $43.5m Queen Street upgrade was very disruptive to business and turned a lot people away. However this year things have been looking up. The street looks better, some flash international stores have opened at the bottom of town, and a massive marketing campaign was launched. That’s now all at risk,” says Cameron Brewer, general manager of the Newmarket Business Association.

“CBD business association Heart of the City recently spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on its ‘big little city’ marketing campaign. However the only advertising Queen Street is getting at the moment is around a tacky parade. It is an absolute nightmare for them. Potentially it’s so damaging it could almost be viewed as a form of economic sabotage inflicted by one man for his gain only.

“Any traction Queen Street has made in recent months now seems to have been lost. Businesses only ever want their street to be aligned with positive images not be the centre of a massive scrap over a cheap and nasty event that divides the city.

“There is absolutely no up side for Queen Street in all of this. The retailers won’t benefit from all the talk or the event itself. In fact their lunchtime trade will come to a standstill as will the traffic.

“The only one who is benefiting from all this is Steve Crow. There is nothing in it for Queen Street. It’s a real shame given all the work and money that has been spent to improve its fortunes,” said Cameron Brewer.

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