How Melbourne’s CBD still struggling post-lockdown

Life is returning to Melbourne’s CBD but the city is still lagging behind after lockdown with the Lord Mayor flagging “huge challenges” for the city’s economic recovery.

Workers are returning to CBD offices but Melbourne is still ­lagging behind Sydney and Brisbane in its post-coronavirus recovery.

New Google mobility data shows that journeys to workplaces have risen since the start of the year, but a full return to normal levels is still some way off.

On April 17, work movements in Melbourne were 33 per cent below the typical level recorded before the pandemic, compared with 26 per cent less in Sydney.

Brisbane was ahead of both cities with work movements just 19 per cent below normal.

In a positive sign, the City of Melbourne recorded a big rise in pedestrian movements on the same day, with foot traffic at 86.6 per cent of pre-coronavirus levels.

But as a Saturday, this was driven by school holidays and the end of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and these figures fell back to sluggish levels during the week.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said life was starting to return to the city as workers returned to their offices, but there was more to do.

Life is slowly returning to the streets of Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Wayne Taylor

Office workers return to Melbourne’s CBD. Picture: Andrew Henshaw. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

“Despite more people returning to the city in recent weeks and months, there are still huge challenges for our economic recovery such as closed international borders,” she said.

“Continued support for the central city is essential and we are working in conjunction with the Victorian government to support local businesses and bring the buzz back.

“The share of retail and hospitality premises that are open and operating has increased by seven percentage points in the first quarter of this year as more people have returned to the city.”

Ms Capp said that by the end of March, 78 per cent of city shops were open again. “Every shop that reopens means more Melburnians back at work, and this is vital for the long-term economic future of our great city,” she said.

Small Business Australia’s executive director Bill Lang said more ­action was needed to get workers back into the CBD. “What is needed is for every public servant to be ordered back to their desks and incentives for larger employers to have workers return,” he said.

“Maybe through a rate cut, ­other tax breaks or reduced parking fees provided they reach a minimum threshold of employees back in the office.

“What is clear is that if we do not do something, then thousands more traders will lose their businesses, people will lose their jobs and tourists will be deterred from visiting a Melbourne that has gone from ‘most liveable city’ to a ghost town.”

[e-mail]