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                    Outdoor dining extended to provide certainty to businesses

                    Media release, Wednesday 17 February 2021
                    The City of Melbourne will extend its outdoor dining program until mid-2021 in order to provide certainty to hospitality businesses as they continue to adapt to COVID-19 restrictions.

                    ​The three-month extension will allow outdoor dining spaces including 'parklets' to remain in place until Wednesday 30 June 2021.

                    The outdoor dining program has been successful in helping venues to reopen and continue operating as we return to COVID-normal.

                    The City of Melbourne has issued nearly 1500 permits for outdoor dining across the municipality and has installed more than 200 outdoor dining 'parklets'.

                    The City of Melbourne will invest $2.2 million to extend the program as part of the joint $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund in partnership with the Victorian Government. This brings the total investment in outdoor dining infrastructure, maintenance and laneway closures to $7.7 million.

                    The City of Melbourne surveyed 150 of more than 186 businesses with outdoor dining 'parklets' in January to gather feedback and inform decision making on the future of extended outdoor dining.

                    The survey indicated that outdoor dining 'parklets' had helped 81 per cent of businesses to reopen, 76 per cent to maintain seating capacity and 72 per cent were either satisfied or very satisfied with their 'parklets'.

                    A comprehensive evaluation of the program will be considered by Councillors in March, including an assessment of the economic benefits and recommendations for the program beyond June 2021.

                    Quotes attributable to Lord Mayor Sally Capp:

                    "The latest lockdown has already had a major impact on our business community – particularly the hospitality industry – so we're doing everything we can to provide certainty for businesses once we emerge from lockdown," the Lord Mayor said.

                    "The outdoor dining program has helped bring back the buzz by attracting patrons from across Melbourne and the regions.

                    "The extended outdoor dining program has helped to provide hospitality businesses with extra capacity to seat more customers and get more revenue.

                    "Businesses can have confidence that outdoor dining will continue in the City of Melbourne until winter. We're looking into additional features to support outdoor dining during the cooler months such as weather protection.

                    "We want to reduce the administrative burden on businesses so will be directly contacting each business and have a simplified process to extend permits for those who wish to continue their outdoor dining space.

                    "All City of Melbourne Councillors are committed to ensuring our organisation is focused on assisting local businesses that have been battling some of the toughest trading conditions in living memory."


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