Number of people in Melbourne CBD falls 90 per cent

Usually about a million people bustle around Melbourne’s CBD each day, but shocking new figures show the city has achieved a record not ever seen in “living memory”.

The number of people in Melbourne’s CBD has fallen 90 per cent with the Lord Mayor declaring the city is at its emptiest in “living memory”.

The dramatic decline — compared with pedestrian figures at the same time last year — comes as people heed the tougher lockdown.

Usually about a million people are in the city each day but now the figure is lucky to reach 90,000.

Work is underway to make sure stricken businesses get back on track once the pandemic is over.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said: “Pedestrian counts are down about 90 per cent compared to this time last year.”

“The city hasn’t been this empty for this long in living memory,” Ms Capp said.

“As the lockdown changes were announced we saw the impact happening in real-time across the city.

“Since the stage four restrictions started, Melbourne’s streets have been almost deserted. This shows Melburnians are doing the right thing and staying home to help slow the spread of the virus.

“The city feels strange and unfamiliar as we all make sacrifices to keep our community safe.”

An empty Bourke St Mall as Melburnians stay home under lockdown orders. Picture: David Crosling

Flinders Street Station, normally crammed with people, is almost deserted. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

More than 60 sensors across the city have recorded the mass exodus, with pedestrian counts at the Flinders Street Station underpass down from more than 36,000 a day to just 3600.

“Before the COVID-19 lockdown, up to one million people were moving around the City of Melbourne each day,” Ms Capp said.

“This is devastating for our business community and we know that trading conditions are going to continue to be challenging for some time.

“However, the sooner we can flatten these infection numbers by doing the right thing, the sooner we can help businesses open their doors again.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp, with Governor of Victoria Linda Dessau, is working on ways to revitalise Melbourne’s CBD when the pandemic is over. Picture: Mark Stewart

Southbank along the Yarra River during the latest lockdown. Picture: David Crosling

Ms Capp has formed an advisory board which includes businesswoman Elizabeth Proust, NGV director Tony Ellwood and logistics magnate Lindsay Fox to come up with ways to help Melbourne’s CBD through the pandemic.

Melbourne City Council has also contacted more than 10,000 small businesses across the municipality to offer information and support.

Average pedestrian counts:

Sunday August 2: down 79 per cent compared with the same time last year

Monday August 3: down 87 per cent compared with the same time last year

Tuesday August 4: down 87 per cent compared with the same time last year

Wednesday August 5: down 87 per cent compared with the same time last year

Thursday August 6: down 90 per cent compared with the same time last year.

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