Melbourne CBD ‘losing it’s soul’ as rolling lockdowns drive away foot traffic

Melbourne’s CBD has “lost its soul”, traders say, as foot traffic data shows how many people are coming into the city after each lockdown.

Buskers John Hunt, left, and Ben Harrison in Melbourne. Picture: Aaron Francis

Each Covid-19 lockdown takes Melbourne’s CBD back to square one in terms of the lifeblood of its economy – people.

Exclusive pedestrian data recorded in the week following the city’s fifth lockdown that ended on July 27 reveals weekday foot traffic around 36 per cent of levels recorded before the pandemic.

This is broadly in line with figures in the week after the two previous 2021 lockdowns, in February (36 per cent) and then again in May-June (38 per cent).

Weekend traffic for Melbourne’s CBD last weekend sat at 54 per cent of pre-Covid levels, slightly down from the weekend after the previous lockdown (58 per cent), data supplied by Melbourne City Council shows.

While there were differences in the level of restrictions coming out of each lockdown, the numbers broadly highlight the serious challenge in bringing big cities back to life during on-again, off-again lockdowns.

During each lockdown, pedestrian traffic in Melbourne’s CBD falls to just 15 to 20 per cent of pre-Covid levels. It then builds again, and prior to the beginning of lockdown 5 on July 14 had reached around 60 per cent of weekday traffic and 80 per cent on the weekends, the data shows.

Under the rules that existed until late Thursday, Victorians were being urged to work from home if possible, and office ­capacity was restricted to 25 per cent. Speaking before Thursday’s snap lockdown, Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said she was confident the city would come alive again when restrictions eased, and programs were in train to encourage people back.

“We’re breathing new life into vacant shopfronts, rescheduling the Firelight Festival as soon as ­restrictions allow, and we’ve ­recently announced the dates for this year’s Melbourne Music Week,” Ms Capp said.

“We’re doing everything we can to encourage more people into the city, but the only way to keep Melbourne open and fill our offices is to vaccinate as many people as possible.”

But Alissa Doherty, manager of 3 Little Monkeys cafe adjacent to the famous Degraves Street, was less optimistic, saying many regular customers had disappeared after Victoria’s fifth lockdown even though they returned after each of the previous four.

“I’ve lost a lot of regulars who were always a given. They were a staple, they were a daily guaranteed customer and I don’t know where they are,” she said. “This little area really is the heart and soul of Melbourne. I remember coming here, and walking down the street and being like, wow this is amazing,” she said. “It‘s just lost its soul.”

Australian Retailers Association chief Paul Zahra said it was getting harder for small CBD businesses to snap back after each lockdown.

“If there’s another outbreak and stay-at-home orders return, it’s back to square one for these businesses,” Mr Zahra said ahead of the latest lockdown. “The Melbourne CBD is a shadow of its former self and it’ll take years for the recovery to be complete.”

Buskers Ben Harrison and John Hunt were more hopeful the city would return to normal.

“There are certainly less (people) now but I feel like people like that something is happening, and (they will) come back into the city,” Mr Hunt said. “Hopefully we slightly brighten someone’s day with a bit of music.”