Melbourne Lord Mayor reflects on ‘revolting’ scenes as CBD workers stay home

Melbourne’s Lord Mayor has described scenes in the CBD as “absolutely revolting” as workers refuse to return to the office after lockdown.

One week after business owners in Melbourne’s Docklands expressed fears that COVID-19 and Victoria’s lockdown had “shattered the once bustling metropolis”, the city’s own Lord Mayor has put the boot in.

She says foot traffic is slowly returning, but many workers are refusing to return to the office.

Speaking to 3AW’s Neil Mitchell on Thursday morning, Sally Capp described scenes in the CBD as “absolutely revolting”.

“I walked down King Street on Sunday morning to have a look at what was happening and what I saw was absolutely revolting and it’s unacceptable and we know we have to put more resources into streets where frankly inappropriate behaviour happens.”

Ms Capp was responding to 3AW listeners who had reported being “accosted” while walking through the streets and having to step over “human waste”.

Graffiti at Southbank. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

RELATED: Docklands a ghost town after lockdown

“Because our streets aren’t as busy it’s more visible,” she said of graffiti, which has increased since lockdown.

“I would say graffiti, tagging behaviour has increased … so it’s something we’re talking to (Victoria Police) about.

“We know, and it’s our responsibility … it’s an absolute focus and we’re putting millions of dollars into it.”

It comes after Premier Daniel Andrews announced 75 per cent of the workforce could return to CBD offices following the state’s third lockdown in January.

But business owners in Docklands, where a number of shops remain closed, say they need more help getting back on track.

Docklands Chamber of Commerce president Johanna Maxwell described the scenes at Docklands as “completely flat” and could not see that changing in the near future.

Scenes in Melbourne have been described as ‘revolting’ by the Lord Mayor. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

A City of Melbourne report found 47 per cent of street-front shops were closed, with 21.9 per cent vacant and 25 per cent temporarily closed due to COVID-19 restriction uncertainty.

“It’s shattering because pre-COVID it was thriving,” Ms Maxwell told NCA NewsWire.

“It’s not just our hospitality sector that’s hurting, it’s our chemists, dentists, chiros, the dry cleaners, and boot repair people – everything’s impacted, even the hairdressers.”

She said the village had borne the brunt of a year of rolling COVID-19 restrictions with the loss of 20,000 city workers.

She also said consistent restrictions had devastated businesses, with business owners anxious about being thrown back into lockdown.

And despite 75 per cent of workers in Victoria now able to return to the office, Ms Maxwell said she did not believe it would have much of an impact on businesses being able to bounce back.

“People will still have the option to work from home and won’t be planning to come back full time,” she said.

Swanston Street has been given a deep clean. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

“We’re hoping people will start to realise that the entertainment and the things we have in Docklands is still available and our focus now is on a slow-burn recovery plan.”

Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chief Executive Paul Guerra anticipated more workers to return to officers, with the government removing the compulsory mask rule in workplaces.

“Wearing a mask in the workplace was a major disincentive for people to return when they could do their work at home without a mask,” he said.

“Businesses that rely on foot traffic from office workers have done it tougher than most this past year and I encourage everyone to support them in whatever way they can: buy a coffee, have a work lunch, go shopping on your lunchbreak. Every little bit counts.

— with NCA NewsWire