Chapel St: Summer safety program to be trialled to help younger clubbers

A whole generation of partygoers have turned 18 without having hit a nightclub because of Covid. A plan is in place to help them party safely.

A trial program will be launched to help clubbers get home safely from Chapel St nightclubs in summer. File picture: David Geraghty

Young clubbers will be given extra support to get home safely amid predictions of large numbers flocking to one of Melbourne’s most popular party strips this summer.

Stonnington Council approved more than $790,000 in funding for targeted initiatives to help the community recover from the Covid-19 pandemic at its meeting on Monday night.

It includes $30,000 to trial a “night time economy summer project” to support young people safely leaving clubs in the Chapel Street precinct.

Council spokesman Sean Ross said it would look to provide small teams of appropriately trained staff and volunteers on Friday and Saturday nights to offer water, a space to sober up and assistance getting home.

The initiative will be modelled on a similar program co-ordinated by the Salvation Army in Melbourne’s CBD.

Mr Ross said the initiative was designed to support “vulnerable” clubbers who have turned 18 or celebrated other milestones during lockdown and could be visiting the precinct for the first time.

The council believes the fresh-faced clubbers could be more exposed to physical or sexual alcohol-related harm and intoxication.

Nick Yannas, owner of Chapel St bar Punk Carla, welcomed the initiative as he felt younger clubbers would “go crazy” once venues reopened.

“They have been locked up in the house, and every time we’ve come out of lockdown it goes crazy in here,” Mr Yannas said.

“You can see the young ones, they don’t know their (alcohol consumption) limit, and they’ve still got to get to the point where they can get home safely.”

Chapel Street Precinct general manager Chrissie Maus said the group was not consulted about the initiative but would have liked to have had input.

The council plans to begin the initiative in early summer provided venues are operating and the state government’s lockdown restrictions are eased.