Jamal Hakim reveals “Future Postcode 3000” policy

Lord Mayoral hopeful Cr Jamal Hakim has launched his team’s plan to revitalise Melbourne’s CBD through a suite of policies that revive the city’s creative sector and “tactical” greening initiatives.

With office vacancy rates in the CBD currently at their highest levels since the 1990s recession, Cr Hakim said it was during that last “deep economic downturn” that the council at the time responded with “an adventurous approach”.

Ahead of October’s City of Melbourne’s elections, Cr Hakim said it was “time for a Future Postcode 3000”, which drew similar lessons from “the ambitious Postcode 3000 strategy” of the ‘90s.

The original Postcode 3000 policy led by the council’s former head of city design Prof. Rob Adams helped revitalise the city through a range of landlord and developer incentives, subsidised tenancies for artists, and laneway revivals.

Cr Hakim said that Team Hakim would offer a similar suite of incentives to facilitate creative and community tenancies in office buildings and seek to replicate the Nicholas Building model, which he argued had been jeopardised since its recent sale.

He added that rising rents were pushing community and care economy organisations out of the CBD, despite the city’s social needs continuing to grow.

“Melbourne is at risk of losing its arts capital status. Our city can’t afford to see creative and non-profit organisations priced out of the communities they exist to serve,” Cr Hakim said.

“That’s why my arts policy is also a nation-leading urban culture policy.”

As part of his policy, Cr Hakim has pledged to activate vacant office spaces through a host of incentives, provide $2 million every year to “supercharge” the council’s Creative Spaces program, and funds to support the Nicholas Building Association.

He also wants to double the council’s contestable arts funding programs for local artists, provide $10 million for multicultural festivals and events, and support office-to-housing retrofitting “where it is viable”.

He said the city needed artists living and working in the municipality.

“We need their innovation, and we need their energy. We also know that community services are best delivered with community,” Cr Hakim said.

“We need their dedication, and we need their care. Locals know local business best, and Team Hakim is committed to supporting their work.”

Cr Hakim’s candidate for Deputy Lord Mayor and renowned arts leader Esther Anatolitis said supporting artists in the city could “catapult our thinking”.

“Artists in vertical precincts like the Nicholas Building make extraordinary work that welcomes people from all over Australia, driving their local economies,” she said.

We can’t afford to keep losing our finest creative talent. Let’s strengthen what’s unique about Melbourne before it’s lost forever.

Carlton-based architect Michael Smith, who recently joined Team Hakim as its number one councillor candidate, said empty office space was a “valuable opportunity” to welcome arts and community groups and support the local businesses they love.

“We need practical options for low grade office buildings where conversion to residential use is not financially viable,” Mr Smith said.

“The City of Melbourne cannot afford to tip millions of dollars into each and every one of these projects in order to make them viable. Simply waiving permit fees will not get some of these office-to-housing conversions across the line.”

As part of the team’s broader Postcode 3000 initiative, it has also developed a $25 million “tactical urbanism greening policy” designed to shape the city’s future through testing and trialling new public spaces.

Cr Hakim said key high streets and boulevards, such as Harbour Esplanade, St Kilda Rd, and Collins, Lygon and Errol streets would be revitalised under the program with new placemaking ideas, including fairy lights, greening, arts trails and interactive spaces.

He also wants to “democratise public land” by beautifying the entry to people’s home and apartment buildings by creating licences with owners’ corporations for unused land in front of their properties.

“As we double our population, every square metre of public space becomes crucial in creating a city that is liveable, sustainable, and inclusive,” Cr Hakim said.

“For too long, Melbourne has been overregulated. It’s time to embrace a city where people and businesses have a democratic right to access and shape public spaces.”

“Through this policy, we’ll build a Melbourne where community and civic pride are at the forefront, creating an environment where people feel ownership over their surroundings.” •