More funding for CBD revitalisation

The Victorian Government has announced a further $50.4 million has been provided to the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – a partnership between the government and the City of Melbourne. 

Announced by Minister for Industry Support and Recovery Ben Carroll on November 1, the latest round of funding includes $25.4 million for projects to attract businesses from diverse industries and help encourage more people to visit, live and work in the inner city.

The funding includes a $4 million investment “to boost the state’s social enterprise sector” by helping to create Australia’s first dedicated precinct at Queen Victoria Market to enable the “sector to grow, innovate and create around 100 jobs”.

A further $10 million will support Melbourne’s status as a leading international student city, supporting upgrades to the Study Melbourne Student Centre and creation of arrival packs for newly arrived students from around the world.

The government says it will also provide $5 million toward a new “pop-up live performance venue” to attract new audiences and activate “underused parts of the CBD”. According to government documents revealed by The Age, the pop-up venue was being proposed for Docklands by live music company Live Nation. 

In response to the impacts of COVID-19, the government’s $200 Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund and $100 million Melbourne City Recovery Fund, in partnership with the City of Melbourne, has provided funding for festivals, events, public infrastructure works to bring people into the city. •

Minister Carroll said, “We’re investing in initiatives that attract more visitors to Melbourne, creating jobs for the future and backing businesses to grow.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the council’s partnership with the state government had helped “bring back the buzz to Melbourne”. 

“This next tranche of funding will support further investment, innovation and infrastructure in our city.”