“Anything New York can do, Altona can do better.“
So reads a hugely popular online post from Altona Village Traders Association, calling for road closures to keep restaurants and bars alive during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The state government’s roadmap to easing restrictions in metropolitan Melbourne is based on the city recording a daily average of 30-50 cases by September 28 and fewer than five by late October.
Cafes, restaurants and bars would then be able to reopen for onsite dining, but this would mostly outdoors with patron cap.
Members of the community supported traders’ calls to close part of Pier Street and the Esplanade to allow more al fresco dining.
Traders liaison officer Sharon Walsh said businesses had suggested closing Pier Street between Queen and Blyth streets, and hoped to bring forward the annual summer closure of the Esplanade between Bent and Pier streets.
“We are looking at anything we can do to make Pier Street vibrant, bring people back out and bring them back so they feel safe about coming out and dining out,“ Ms Walsh said.
“It’s going to be a long road back.“
Traders want some of the on-street parking bays to be repurposed as parklets, with tables and chairs for outdoor dining.
“That gives the traders more area to dine outdoors because that’s how it’s going to be for quite a while,“ Ms Walsh said.
“We’ve also asked for whatever available footpath space there is so those foodies can spread their wings a bit.
“That can go right along the street, if need be.“
Traders are in talks with Hobsons Bay council.
