Worker loyalty scheme plan to rescue Melbourne

Victoria has recorded 4867 Covid cases and nine deaths while plans are under way to get CBD workers back to their offices at least three days a week.

Sally Capp is calling for urgent action to reignite a buzz in the city. Picture: David Caird

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Victoria has recorded 4867 Covid cases and nine deaths on Sunday. There are 358 people in Victorian hospitals with 51 in intensive care and 12 on ventilators.

CBD workers who return to the office at least three days a week would benefit from a loyalty scheme under a bold vision to revitalise the city.

Melbourne’s most prominent industry figures have come together with a key list of suggestions they say are needed to return the city to its pre-pandemic best.

Removing the recommendation to work from home and scrapping the ­indoor mask mandate in ­office settings is the first step to restarting the city, business leaders say.

But other incentives such as loyalty schemes, targeted promotions and discounted entries are needed to entice employees back.

Data from City of Melbourne pedestrian sensors – near public sector workplaces – reveal some areas around government offices have recorded reductions of almost 70 per cent on pre-pandemic figures.

Weekday pedestrian movement in the past five weeks around Collins Place – close to the departments of Premier and Cabinet, Treasury and Finance, and Education and Training – is down 68.5 per cent compared with the 2019 benchmark.

Pedestrian activity around Lonsdale St was down 58.5 per cent compared with last year, while the Chinatown area experienced a drop of 47.9 per cent.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp warned that traders in those ­vicinities would shut down forever unless urgent action was taken.

“Our traders continue to suffer under the weight of this shadow lockdown,” Ms Capp said. “It’s time to ­remove the work from home advice and encourage ­employees to come back to city workplaces.”

Victorian Tourism Industry Council chief executive Felicia Mariani said the success of the Australian Open helped the city “burst back to life” but well thought-out ­incentives were crucial.

“There’s a new wind blowing through our city, and it’s one we need to cultivate and accelerate if we’re going to revive our beloved Melbourne,” she said.

“We need our workers, our shoppers, our culture vultures, and our night owls breathing life back into our streets. Our recovery lies in doing everything we can to activate this audience now.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry chief executive Paul Guerra said Melbourne was now a tale of three cities.

Although weekends were good for the city, and weeknights had started to pick up, the “Monday to Friday nine to five” was struggling.

NAB chief executive Ross McEwan said: “We all have work to do to bring back the vibrancy of our city.

“The people of Melbourne have shown incredible resilience and done everything they’ve been asked to do. It’s now time to trust and empower them to go back to their normal lives.”