Canberra light rail construction hits local businesses with road closures

ABC NEWS (Australia)

As construction begins on the next stage of Canberra’s light rail, local businesses struggling to keep customers and cash flow on track. With road closures and detours set to last for years, traders in the area are facing tough decisions about their future.

Transcript

00:00For Jamal Bakri's business, it's adapt to survive.

00:06If we're not changing, we don't see us lasting.

00:10If I see a drop in percentage of clientele because of the works that are going out outside,

00:16we just won't make it.

00:17His bar and his mother's neighbouring restaurant will close their doors to daily trade for

00:22at least two years, focusing instead on functions and events.

00:27The businesses are located on the western side of London Circuit, which is now closed

00:31between Northbourne and Edinburgh Avenues to allow for the extension of Canberra's light

00:37rail.

00:38It's meant some of his staff have been let go.

00:41It's been a very big decision to close this down for a period of time, but we've just

00:46got to do what we have to do to stay afloat.

00:49Just down the road, this cafe has already seen a decrease in the number of people through

00:53the doors.

00:55Now we're in the middle of lunchtime, probably 60-70% less customers today than normal.

01:00The 1.7km extension will take light rail from the city to Lake Burley Griffin, adding three

01:06new stops.

01:07It's anticipated the line will be operational in early 2028.

01:11What we're doing is we're working with businesses just to understand some of the impacts that

01:15may be impacting them from the construction and ensuring that they have the information

01:19that they need to remain open.

01:23Pedestrians will still be able to access the precinct during construction, and signs have

01:28been placed in the area to direct people to the area's businesses.

01:32For the little people stuck in the middle, you'd just hope there was a bit more financial

01:36support from the government, not money, just reducing rates or just something to take the

01:42pressure off us.

01:43Part of the government policy is not to reduce or provide rent or rate relief, but what we're

01:49looking for is other ways of hearing from businesses about what we can do to assist.

01:54We just need to be patient and hopefully we can survive.

01:59Hoping they'll be able to stay on track.

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