WITH the aim to become the mouthpiece of the Northbridge community, a newly incorporated group of business people and traders has formed The Business Improvement Group of Northbridge (The BIG N).
Originally established to generate stronger daytime trade in the well-known entertainment precinct, The Big N aims to change any negative perceptions of Northbridge and promote it as a successful and positive precinct.
Interim committee member Brass Monkey Pub and Brassiere senior manager Colin Gourdis said Northbridge had formed similar bodies in the past, however, The Big N was the only one to be formed in consultation with the City of Perth.
Mr Gourdis said the group would be the voice of Northbridge in any local government and State Government decisions, including the sinking of the railway line south of Northbridge.
“We want to recognise the uniqueness of Northbridge, its cultural diversity, entertainment and history,” he said.
“Northbridge has been good, bad and indifferent in terms of public perception.”
Mr Gourdis said that anything unsavoury in Northbridge was highlighted and the positive aspects of the precinct needed promotion.
He said the group would represent the business community in Northbridge by actively engaging in community decision-making processes and developing collaborative relationships with the community and government agencies.
“We hope to get the majority of business people in Northbridge and get on board with councillors and the state government,” Mr Gourdis said.
The newly incorporated entity has formed an interim committee and will hold an election to appoint the management committee in July.
Membership of The BIG N is open to any person who has an interest in the economic vitality and success of Northbridge and are either operators, employees or owners of Northbridge businesses, tenants or residents of Northbridge or service providers within the precinct. A membership meeting will be held upstairs at The Brass Monkey from 6pm, on June 2.
