The number of workers visiting offices in Melbourne’s CBD rose above 30 per cent of the pre-pandemic rate in March, but occupancy is still as low as 17 per cent on quiet days, primarily Monday and Friday.
Lord mayor Sally Capp admitted her council faced a big task making the city lively every day of the week, and she suggested the make-up of workers and visitors to the CBD would become more diverse in coming months once the routine of office workers became established. Renewing calls from last year, Cr Capp said she would “absolutely love it” if Premier Daniel Andrews ordered the state’s nearly 60,000 public servants back to the office at least three days a week.“That would be fantastic. We also understand the role that flexible working plays as we move forward,” she said, adding about 30 per cent of Melbourne City Council’s office staff were working from home on average.
“Mondays are a problem,” she said. “You’ve got a lot of offices putting on free breakfast, drinks, asking really interesting people to come in and speak. But it’s obviously not having the impact.” “At better pricing, there’s no doubt. But pre-COVID, we were basically zero vacancy in the city for office space, and now of course people are looking for those opportunities,” she said.
michaelfowler08 How about less/lower parking fees? Why does it even cost so much to park? Surely the road is all paid off by now?
michaelfowler08 Yeah.. keep put up more bike lanes for uBer eat riders to see who visit CBD
michaelfowler08 Sally Capp is out of touch
michaelfowler08 If the Lord Major of Melbourne wants more people in the CBD, she ought to stop alienating drivers.
michaelfowler08 Sally Capp again forgetting that she is just a mere mayor and not the Premier. Stop relying on public servants to prop up the CBD. Just stop.
michaelfowler08 As long as we are in a State of Emergency this will remain a problem…wind it back!!
michaelfowler08 This isn't surprising. With the lifting of restrictions so many people have got the new Covid strain and will continue to do so. getting it doesn't mean a person is immune, and people simply don't want to take it home to families.
michaelfowler08 The 1990s living is long gone, wake up Sally
michaelfowler08 Oh grow up. Times have changed, make the most of it, embrace the opportunity. For decades Australia has grappled with the need to decentralise our economic centres. Lazy thinking just wants to force the masses back to the unsustainable past.
michaelfowler08 FYI - spontaneous collaboration isn’t a real thing and we CBD office minions roll our eyes with great pace when we hear that this is one of the key reasons we should return en masse
michaelfowler08 Sally needs to think outside the box instead of keeping the same old narrative.
michaelfowler08 The success of the Suburbs is now seen as a drag on the CBD …
michaelfowler08 Mondays have always been a problem for those who have to work conventional hours.
michaelfowler08 Less and less people heading in as there is less and less reasons… the burbs are booming with better than ever restaurants, cafes etc with no cost to park My local strip is full of professionals who now split their working week having meetings / coffees lunches now
michaelfowler08 No shit Sherlock.
michaelfowler08 Live in the now. Commuting is a waste of time.
michaelfowler08 Times are a changing...get with the programme...life work balance...cheaper to have people work from home..also more productive...chance to make the CBD a living green space...let’s make people happy again...not gonna happen though is it cause greed still trumps..