Mornington Peninsula Shire's plan to help local businesses bounce back from lockdown and keep our community COVID-safe is now well underway.
In townships across the Peninsula, attractive outdoor dining and retail spaces are being created to allow businesses to maximise their trade under the State Government's ongoing density limitations.
The State Government-initiated program is designed to help local economies recover from the effects of COVID. Local councils across Victoria have been provided with funding to implement the outdoor dining and trading program, where there is demand from local businesses.
Under the program, part of Main Street, Mornington, has been closed to traffic and opened up to pedestrians and cyclists to create more space for outdoor dining and retail.
Extra outdoor dining and retail space has also been created in Blairgowrie, Mount Eliza, Mount Martha, McCrae, Rosebud, Sorrento and, most recently, Rye.
After further discussions with Rye traders this week, the outdoor dining and trading space created between Weir and Dundas streets has been shortened and now runs between Weir and Napier streets. This means a short section of one Sorrento-bound lane between Napier Street and Dundas Street has been reopened to traffic.
Parking space and parking turnover are a critical consideration in our planning for outdoor dining. At Rye, there has been no net loss of parking, with the creation of 50 new car spots within walking distance of the main shopping strip.
Parking in Rye has also been made easier with the installation of smart parking signage, which alerts motorists to the number of parking bays available in each of the larger car parks around the township. Accessible car parking spaces for those with a disability have been relocated to spots close by.
Shire officers will continue to work closely with local businesses to activate, improve the amenity and refine the approach at Rye and find a balance that best suits individual needs.
As noted by Mayor Councillor Despi O'Connor:
"We are committed to doing all we can to help the local economy recover and keep our community COVID-safe over summer."
"Density limits for local businesses are going to be a fact of life throughout the peak period so enabling outdoor dining and trading is crucial to help businesses make the most of summer trading."
"In implementing outdoor dining and trading, we have worked closely with the State Government and emergency services and have sought their approval for all the changes we've put in place."
"There has been no loss of car parking at Rye, in fact there's been a net gain. And this will improve further as the gravel car park at Napier Street becomes available next week."
"This is a new program which has been implemented quickly and we will continue to refine and adapt it as any issues arise. Council is utterly committed to working with all local businesses to address individual concerns and help them trade safely over summer."
