Jobseekers put to work assisting CBD laneway facelift

An army of jobseekers will be deployed to spruce up Melbourne’s iconic laneways and bring visitors back. See what they’ll be doing.

Melbourne Laneways are getting a makeover to revive the city and bring visitors back. Melbourne band Screen Saver playing in Russell Place, one of the laneways being transformed. Picture: Grace McKinnon

Jobseekers will be put to work to help spruce up Melbourne laneways and support CBD businesses opening in a covid-safe way.

The state government and Melbourne City Council will spend $2.8 million employing 160 jobseekers to assist in the revitalisation of 40 laneways and support businesses reopening.

Workers will help maintain the new outdoor dining areas, providing support material, contacts, COVID-safe advice, face mask distribution and make sure dining areas are safe and clean.

Minister for Employment Jaala Pulford said the move was good for businesses and Melbourne’s iconic laneways.

“The CBD is the heart of our great city, that’s why we’re making sure that local businesses get the support they need and our laneways get the attention they deserve,” she said.

As part of jolly Christmas plans in Melbourne, visitors will be enticed back to the CBD with a long list of offerings including Shop the City in partnership with Melbourne Fashion Week, Laneway events and family fun.

The month-long festivities will also include a Christmas-themed picnic area, Piazza de Natale, in Argyle Square on Lygon St, Carlton.

The Creative Laneway project was announced last week ahead of 40 historic Melbourne laneways being transformed to bring visitors back to the city and extend outdoor hospitality space.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the laneway project would help get the city buzzing again.

“Melbourne in famous for laneways – we have more than 200 of them. This project will get out cultural life buzzing again and create more than 150 jobs,” she said.

“This project will cement our credibility as the street art and laneway capital of Australia and I think preferably heading right up there into one of the top cities for this sort of experience around the world.”

Local artist Kaff-eine has begun work on transforming Russell Place which will soon become an outdoor area for cocktail bar Gin Palace. Picture: Grace McKinnon

The program has created 150 jobs for lasting six months for people including designers, sound and light specialists, music producers, technicians and maintenance workers.

The state government and local council will partner to fund the project.

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