Prizes up for grabs in push to get workers back to city centre

Free beer and city parking for a year and a $40,000 major prize are on offer under a new competition designed to get workers back into the office, as some favourite CBD venues face collapse.

Brisbane industries are calling on workers to get back into the office or risk watching their favourite venues collapse after the floods hindered city activity.

More employees returned to the city centre in February according to the Property Council of Australia, which surveyed workers just as extreme weather in the South East began to kick off.

The Office Occupancy survey showed significant improvement from record-low occupancy of 13 per cent in January, which was caused by a combination of the Omicron wave and the holiday period.

Queen St Mall looked pretty quiet on February 8, which was the day public servants were supposed to go back to the office. Picture: Steve Pohlner

Occupancy rose to 41 per cent in February but Property Council Queensland Executive Director Jen Williams said Brisbane still had a way to go to reach the 60 to 70 per cent of pre-Covid occupancy seen in 2021.

“With the peak of the pandemic passing and a range of positive announcements from both Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government, the city was tracking well to reach pre-Omicron levels of activity,” Ms Williams said.

“Unfortunately, along with broader impacts on the community and the economy, last week’s extreme weather events also impacted the city’s activity levels as people remained in their local communities.

“With the CBD clean-up near completion and mask mandates being lifted last Friday, I am confident office occupancy levels will quickly climb again.”

Flooding on Creek Street in the Brisbane CBD on February 28. Picture: Peter Wallis/Getty Images

The Property Council has joined forces with the Queensland Government, Brisbane City Council and The Courier-Mail to launch the Brisbane VIP competition in a bid to accelerate the return of workers.

The competition will run from today until April 8 with the aim of encouraging workers, residents and visitors back to the city centre and reinforcing the message that Brisbane is open for business.

Felons Operations Brewer Shekira Coonan is hoping people will now return to the city. Picture: Brad Fleet

Dean Romeo of Felons Brewery said the floods had pushed many businesses to the brink following a difficult two years.

“It is difficult to prepare for events like this – a lot of businesses in the city were already stretched and the floods may just top it off,” Mr Romeo said.

“What we really need is for workers to come back next week because if you don’t, your favourite bar, restaurant or coffee shop may not be there for much longer.”

Residents can support businesses through the Brisbane VIP competition by scanning a QR code in the lobby of participating office buildings, retail and hospitality outlets on at least 10 of the 30 days of the campaign.

A major prize valued at almost $40,000 will be awarded to one participant.

Michael Tassis at his restaurant Opa on Eagle St in Brisbane's CBD during the floods.

Ms Williams said it was imperative that support for CBD businesses and city centre activation remained at the forefront of government and private sector agendas as the southeast recovered from the flood.

“Across March, we look forward to seeing office occupancy rates lift again as the resilience of Queenslanders comes to the fore, and Brisbanites seek to reconnect and support their city centre community,” Ms Williams said.