Lord Mayor Nick Reece in Mecca confusion over Bourke St tram shutdown

Will Bourke St trams be cancelled in peak-hour because of track works, or because of Mecca’s highly anticipated store opening?

New Mecca Bourke St store front. Picture: Supplied Mecca / Hugh Davies

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece has blundered through a radio interview, confusing the reasons for a peak-hour tram shutdown on the morning of the Mecca superstore opening on Bourke St in Melbourne.

Mr Reece claimed it was a convenient coincidence that Yarra Trams was doing work on the tracks on Queen St – at the same time of the Mecca event.

Services will close along the street on Friday, August 8, from 7am to 11am between Russell and Queen Streets.

“Yarra Trams is proposing to do some works along that stretch of Bourke St,’’ Mr Reece said on ABC Radio.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece said the tram shutdown is because of works. Picture: David Crosling

“And it just so happens that that timing coincides with the grand opening of the Mecca megastore.’’

But Yarra Trams said its service change was for a “Bourke Street Mall event”.

The closure has been prompted by safety concerns with a large number of customers expected to pack the mall on the day.

Mecca’s flagship 4000sq m super store will be set up over three storeys at 299 Bourke St.

Mr Reece went on to spruik the opening as the biggest Bourke St had seen since Myer opened more than 100 years ago.

“It is going to be absolutely extraordinary,’’ he said.

Herald Sun sought clarification from the Lord Mayor but a statement from a City of Melbourne spokesperson said that the long-awaited opening of Mecca on Bourke St would be a “milestone moment for retail in Melbourne’’.

“Mecca has been working closely with Yarra Trams and the Department of Transport to manage safety around expected large crowd numbers on the opening morning.

“The City of Melbourne has been supporting these conversations and we’re looking forward to seeing what Mecca has in store for the city.”

Originally published as Lord Mayor Nick Reece in Mecca confusion over Bourke St tram shutdown