Kickstart Victoria: Bold plan to revive Melbourne post-coronavirus unveiled
Melbourne’s CBD must see a return to office-based working, introduce “day passes” to people who have been temperature-tested and reinvent its events calendar to rebound from the COVID devastation. Here’s the path back for our once thriving city centre.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Melbourne’s CBD would be surrounded by a green walking and cycle loop under a bold plan to revive the inner city.
New events like citywide treasure hunts and cycle challenges would be launched as more streets were pedestrianised and public transport access improved.
And COVIDsafe hubs would be dotted throughout town issuing “day passes” to people who were temperature-tested to enable easier contact tracing.
Developer lobby group the Urban Development Institute of Australia is behind the recovery and revival plan for the CBD.
UDIA state CEO Danni Hunter said that pandemic shutdowns had a disproportionately devastating impact on the CBD - “the geographic epicentre of Victorian jobs”.
“Victoria’s success has been largely driven by population growth,” she said.
“But with travel restrictions and declining employment opportunities, there’s little doubt we’ve lost our competitive edge against other Australian cities in attracting both people and investment.”
Ms Hunter said the city needed a plan to return to office-based working if the central city economy was given a chance to recover.
“Concerns around public transport and how to safely manage people in shared workplaces and building facilities are the primary drivers holding many businesses back from planning their return to the office,” she said.
Here is a summary of the UDIA’s Recovery and Revival Plan for Melbourne’s CBD and Central City:
BUILD CONFIDENCE AND TRUST
Consider COVIDSafe hubs that issue CBD day passes where everyone is temperature-tested to enable easier contact-tracing and allow visitors to visit facilities more freely and support local businesses.
There is opportunity for the City of Melbourne to communicate with people moving through the CBD via COVIDSafety alerts and updates.
Look at technology solutions for COVIDSafe Hubs similar to airport check-in and checkout.
INCREASE TRANSPORT CAPACITY AND SAFETY
Stagger the peak and incentivise usage at off-peak times to minimise the number of people on the network at any one time.
Establish a network of Park and Ride or Park and Walk facilities for the “last mile” to support active transport options for residents from outer suburbs commuting to the CBD.
Locations could include Yarra Park, Docklands, Federation Square, Royal Park and the
Queen Victoria Market.
Temporary removal of carpark/car lanes to make way for more pedestrians and cyclists in the immediate term.
Consider greening up a cycle and pedestrian loop around the CBD.
RETURN TO OFFICE-BASED WORKING
Support business return to office plans and flexible working arrangements,
through extensive investment and effective management of the public transport system.
Review school times and subsidise before and after school care programs, to bolster individuals’ opportunity to adopt more flexible working arrangements.
Consider how we can elevate the office-based working experience to encourage people to come to the city.
There is opportunity to tap into Melbourne’s events calendar and for landlords or businesses to explore what activities or events can support the return to office-based working.
HAVE YOUR SAY ON HOW VICTORIA SHOULD REBUILD
REOPEN BORDERS
When appropriate, actively promote and accelerate marketing to all Australians and the world that Victoria is “back open for business”.
As a priority, Victoria’s Government and institutions must petition to reopen international borders to international students.
Consider the opportunity to encourage ex-patriot Australians to return home as an interim source of migration.
Better support and encourage non-permanent residents currently in Victoria to remain so as to reduce the outflow of residents and economic impacts to the local economy.
REINVENT EVENTS CALENDAR
Launch creative ideas like citywide treasure hunts or cycle challenges.
Look at opportunities to integrate with businesses and retailers to support their survival.
Prioritise outdoor and street level activation with proactive and relaxed licensing in smaller streets such as Flinders Lane, Lt Collins St, Lt Bourke St and Degraves St.
Bring in proactive campaigns for building owners to activate the street space/public realm in and around their buildings to generate more foot traffic and activation.
Support arts and cultural businesses with an indoor focus, such as museums and galleries, to spread demand across the day to optimise revenues while still meeting social distancing requirements.
State a national tourism campaign focused around unique Melbourne events, to attract a greater portion of domestic tourism as state and territory borders reopen.
SUPERCHARGE BUILT FORM OPPORTUNITIES
Remove planning constraints on development in the inner city involving tower size and apartment design guidelines to supercharge the development capacity of the residential sector.
Prioritise urban renewal precincts, affordable housing, build-to-rent and derelict sites in the CBD.
Consider the development of a central education and entertainment district to directly cater to and attract international students.
Landlords to look at retrofitting buildings to adapt to changes that have been fast-tracked or brought about by the coronavirus. For example, vacant lower-grade office space could be
converted to student accommodation or affordable housing.
Top idea: Rebuild Melbourne’s identity as the beating heart of our state by getting people back into the CBD, reviving our central economy and supercharging our culture and identity in a COVIDSafe way.
MORE NEWS
SPENDING ON CONSTRUCTION, TOURISM, JOBS TO KICKSTART STATE
THE IDEAS FOR REBUILDING THE STATE AFTER CORONAVIRUS
HOW VICTORIA WILL LOOK IN 2021
FORMER LEADERS UNVEIL BOLD PLANS TO GET STATE MOVING
VICTORIAN FARMERS FEDERATION WANTS REGIONS BUILT UP
CHEAP ENERGY TO KICKSTART VICTORIAN MANUFACTURING