City of Melbourne’s Future Streets Framework wipes cars from city streets, makes pedestrians king

A new City of Melbourne plan to wipe cars from some CBD streets could threaten the future of the city, says a leading business owner.

Cars would be wiped from major CBD streets in a bid to make the city more pedestrian friendly, a City of Melbourne plan proposes. Picture: Luis Enrique Ascui

A leading Melbourne business owner fears a new council plan to wipe cars from some CBD streets could threaten the future of the city.

Restaurateur Chris Lucas said the City of Melbourne’s proposed Future Streets Framework, which was released on Friday, was “concerning” for businesses.

“On the surface, this plan seems extreme and very damaging to our city’s future,” Mr Lucas said.

“This plan, like many other plans and actions taken by this council, very much concerns me.”

Chris Lucas says business owners seem to only find out about these significant policies in the news. Picture: Peter Tarasiuk

Pedestrians would be prioritised and cars would be wiped from some city streets under the bold new proposal.

The plan also outlines how the creation of key “Melbourne Square” streets near train stations on the city loop could close to non-essential vehicles at certain times of the day.

Large sections of the CBD including parts of Flinders, Collins, Bourke, Spring and Spencer streets would deny vehicles access, as pedestrians using train and tram stops would be put first.

Emergency service vehicles would be granted access to the streets at all times.

Mr Lucas said the council should have engaged with CBD traders before releasing the framework, which will be put to council at the Future Melbourne Committee next month.

“It’s certainly not progressive if the majority of businesses have zero or little input, as it’s us that have to live with the consequences of poor policy,” he said.

“We have no detail, no notice and, again, have had no opportunity to participate in any real or genuine discussions with the council on something as significant as these proposed changes – we seem to only find out about these significant policies in the news.”

Bill Lang says many Melburnians still preferred to drive into the city. Picture: Arsineh Houspian

Small Business Australia executive director Bill Lang said the proposed changes sounded “complex” and could lead to confusion for drivers and city visitors,

“Complexity leads to confusion. If car drivers are confused, or people that prefer to drive into the city – for entertainment, for work or for shopping – find it confusing, they’re less likely to come in,” he said.

While the council framework aims to prioritise pedestrians, cyclists and public transport users, Mr Lang said a lot of Melburnians still preferred to drive into the city.

“You don’t see many bike riders carrying merchandise on their bikes that they’ve purchased from city based retailers. In fact, you don’t see many people on trams in particular – because there’s hardly any room – carrying much shopping home,” Mr Lang said.

“There’s a large group of Melburnians that prefer to drive their car, be able to park their car in a convenient and cost effective location, to be able to visit retailers, pick up their purchases, take them back to their car and drive home.

“Anything that reduces people’s ability to do that is a negative with respect to city based retailers.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said council was committed to upgrading popular cycling corridors.

The 2030 proposal also states that pedestrians were of greater economic importance than vehicles.

“The framework paves way for Melbourne to be more pedestrian friendly, noting pedestrians of all abilities offer the highest economic and environmental return of any transport mode,” the draft framework reads.

“The Framework acknowledges that vehicles that have a destination also provide an economic contribution, but vehicles that simply travel through the city do not provide a benefit.

“We are prioritising pedestrians, people on bikes and public transport.”

It also states the works would “help to prepare city streets for significant change emerging through major infrastructure investment including Metro Tunnel Project and Commonwealth Games”.

The Hoddle Grid would also be split into six areas, each focusing to rectify specific issues.

‘Central’ Hoddle Grid would focus on delivering “pedestrian priority on little streets” and to “regenerate Elizabeth St as an ecological spine”.

The ‘South East’ section of the grid, near parliament Station, would strive to create a “village atmosphere” and “embrace water in creative and sustainable ways”.

The plan will make Melbourne’s CBD more pedestrian friendly. Picture: David Caird

It comes after the City of Melbourne last month proposed to remove more than 80 parking spaces and reduce traffic to one lane on two inner-city streets to make way for new protected bike lanes.

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the council was committed to upgrading popular cycling corridors and implementing safe infrastructure to “accommodate all road users”.

Indigenous Australians would also receive further recognition under the plan, with increased “signage, wayfaring, storytelling, truth-telling, placemaking and creative art initiatives” placed throughout the CBD.

If the framework is endorsed at a council committee meeting on June 6, it will move to community consultation between June 7 to July 19 through the council’s online platform.