- Victoria's lockdown will end tonight, the Premier has announced
- Restrictions will remain in place, including no home visitors
- Property Council calls for greater vaccination levels and plans to revitalise the Melbourne CBD
Earlier today, the Victorian Premier, Daniel Andrews, announced the lockdown for the entire state will end as of 11:59 PM tonight.
Significant restrictions will remain in place, such as density limits and masks. Workers will be encouraged to continue working from home if they can, but office workers can return up to 25% capacity or 10 people – whichever is greater.
Schools will also reopen tomorrow and public gatherings will be capped up to 10 people. Home gatherings, however, will not be permitted.
“To every Victorian who checked in with our QR system, who got tested and quarantined, and stayed home to slow the spread of this virus, thank you – it’s because of you we’ve able to get on top of this Delta outbreak and open up our state.”
Daniel Andrews, Victoria Premier
The Property Council of Australia (PCA) has welcomed the ending of the city’s fifth lockdown with Victorian Executive Director, Danni Hunter, remarking the city has an opportunity to resume its recovery and work its way towards a post-pandemic future.
“Victorians should be proud to see the latest outbreak come under control, but the ultimate task is now up to all of us to roll up our sleeves. Vaccination is the only pathway out of this pandemic and the only pathway to full economic recovery for our state,” she said.
Ms Hunter noted that Melbourne’s CBD contributes about 7% of annual GDP and 25% of Victoria’s economic output.
“Now the city’s streets are deserted as workers have retreated to their home offices and other visitors have been locked out, inflicting immense pain on Melbourne’s iconic retail and hospitality sectors.
“With every lockdown we take another step backwards and we can’t afford to sit by and watch the CBD’s slow demise without taking action.
“We need to look beyond the lockdown cycle and create a new vision to attract people back to the city to live, work and play.”
Danni Hunter, Victorian Executive Director PCA
Ms Hunter suggests a hybrid model that encourages people to work from both home and the office, along with a stimulus package targeted at CBD businesses.
Additionally, she believes the state government needs to aggressively employ a strategy to attract national and global headquarters to locate in Melbourne’s CBD.
“Urgent action is critical if Melbourne is going to retain its status as a global city in which high-quality businesses, and high-quality talent want to live, work and invest.”
