Lord Mayor Sally Capp calls on the government to tell Victorians it is safe to head back to the office

Sally Capp is calling on the government to tell Victorians it is safe to head back to the office - hoping the start of February will signal a major return to the CBD.

Melbourne Town Hall COVID testing site was very quiet Thursday. Picture: Sarah Matray

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp is calling on the state government to tell Victorians it is safe to head back to the office.

“I’m not arguing to ‘let it rip’ but I am convinced that we need to live with the virus.’’

Cr Capp told the Herald Sun that she hopes the start of February will signal a major return to the office and an end to working from home which she described as “incredibly ordinary’’.

“I hope we’re told it’s time to leave our homes, return to the office and start being extraordinary again.’’

Cr Capp’s comments come after the Omicron wave sent tens of thousands of workers back to their home office after signs of a revival before Christmas.

And with many families still on summer holidays, the number of people coming into CBD during January has dropped again.

Bourke Street mall in the CBD remains quiet despite no lockdown during an Omicron Covid outbreak in Victoria. Picture: David Crosling

Latest mobility data from the council revealed that pedestrian activity in early January on Swanston St was 33.2 per cent below pre-Covid-19 levels.

Yet the busiest day of 2021 on the pedestrian counter, near the Town Hall, was recorded on November 27, close to pre-pandemic levels, as the vaccinated population ventured out.

But now the latest state government recommendation is for Victorians work from home if they can and for masks to be worn indoors.

Cr Capp acknowledged that the Omicron strain would continue to cause disruption.

“But we can’t let fears of this latest variant cost us another year stuck at home,’’ she said.

“The game changer in 2022 is the achievement that the overwhelming majority of us are vaccinated.’’

Cr Capp recognised that there would be interruptions when a teacher or a colleague caught the virus.

“But hopefully for the majority of the year we’re encouraged to work and learn together on site and the desultory work from home advice ends.’’

“Working from home reduces team productivity, makes it harder to learn and be promoted, exacerbates loneliness, is devastating for our city traders and is quite frankly incredibly ordinary.’’

“A meaningful return to the office will only happen if the government tells us that it’s safe to do so.’’

Foot traffic is significantly down in the CBD with many continuing to work from home. Picture: David Crosling

Property Council Victoria executive director Danni Hunter said the challenge for businesses and employers was to see what the new normal was.

“And we need to do that as soon as possible so businesses can be viable again.’’

Latest figures from the Property Council showed CBD office occupancy rates at 12 per cent in November, three times the October figure but well down on 2021’s high of 45 per cent in May

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting chief executive Scott Veenker said the organisation wanted office workers to return as soon as it is safe.

“And importantly, when staff feel comfortable to do so,’’ Mr Veenker said.

“We know that there are thousands of businesses that rely on trade from office workers.’’

The city council’s mobility data also revealed that commuter pedestrian activity this month was 56 per cent below the numbers seen before the pandemic.

In the city’s retail heart on the Bourke St mall, January pedestrian numbers were 42.7 per cent down on 2019 levels.

The busiest day on the mall was two days before Christmas but still 24 per cent down from the same time two years before.

Pedestrian activity near the Arts Centre on St Kilda Rd has also declined this month.