City streets likely to be closed off to support Melbourne’s outdoor dining plan revealed
From the city streets likely to close to host mini-festivals to a plan for reopening indoor dining faster, here are the big changes coming to Melbourne’s hospitality industry.
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Free permits for extended outdoor dining on footpaths and parking spaces will be given to inner city restaurants and cafes as pandemic restrictions ease.
The City of Melbourne has also revealed which streets could be temporarily closed on weekends for mini-festivals and other events.
The state government is giving hospitality venues the chance to open up with al fresco dining from late October if coronavirus infections are below certain levels.
But the industry is desperate for indoor dining to resume sooner rather than later, and the council has a plan to support that.
The Herald Sun can reveal that CBD spots like Bourke St between Exhibition and Spring streets, and Faraday St in Carlton, could be closed off on weekends for entertainment and dining when restrictions ease.
From October 1, eligible venues will be able to apply to the city council for free temporary outdoor dining permits for footpaths and on-street carparking spaces.
Neighbouring businesses will also have the chance to join up and take over sections of space, including expanding into adjacent laneways.
Lord Mayor Sally Capp said extending outdoor dining would help hospitality businesses cater to more customers within the health restrictions.
“We’re reopening the city for business, and will work with venues to find outdoor dining opportunities appropriate for their unique part of the city,” she said.
“Our team will balance the expansion of outdoor dining with the needs of our residents. We will work with businesses to ensure that expanded dining areas do not negatively impact the safety, accessibility and amenity of our city.”
The council is also looking at “hospitality hubs” where venues can come together because they may not currently be able to trade in front of their premises.
The council’s chair of small business retail and hospitality, Susan Riley, said when there was limited footpath space, car park spaces would be tried.
“Our business owners are entrepreneurs and we expect they’ll have innovative ideas about what will suit their venues,” she said.
The council also has a 10-point plan for reopening indoor dining faster which includes giving COVID-19 safety kits to restaurants and cafes.
The kits will include a digital thermometer, information on options for digital check-ins and
contact tracing of patrons and staff, fact sheets on enhanced cleaning and infection control, masks, hand sanitiser, floor markers, and signage.
About 200 coronavirus safety officers would be deployed to support venues and ensure they were COVID-safe.
The Lord Mayor said al fresco dining didn’t suit all cafes, pubs and restaurants, so the council
would continue pushing the government to fast-track indoor dining.
“Our proposal to open indoor and outdoor dining at the same time is based on a commitment to work individually with each hospitality business in the city,” she said.
Australian Hotels Association Victoria CEO Paddy O’Sullivan said the city’s pubs and hotels were COVID-safe and ready to reopen in a safe and responsible manner.
“We can manage customer movement in our venues to minimise any risks by adhering to the Department of Health and Human Services requirements set out in theCOVID-safe Plan,” he said.
Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra welcomed the city council’s plan, saying “Businesses want one thing – and that is to open.”
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