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More parklets and pop-ups for Victoria

A new funding package to support outdoor dining and entertainment is sure to whet the appetite of Victorians emerging from lockdown.

The Outdoor Economy Package, announced by the Victorian Government this week, will provide financial support to councils and businesses for outdoor trading, hospitality and entertainment.

The $54.5 million package comprises two separate arms: the $14.5 million COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Voucher Program, which will provide grants to businesses for outdoor hospitality and entertainment; and the $40 million COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Fund, which will assist councils in transforming outdoor areas into COVID safe local attractions.

The package is a sequel of sorts to the Victorian Government’s Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package in 2020, which provided councils and business with grants to enhance urban placemaking.

More parklets and outdoor dining is a win for people riding bikes as the reduced motor traffic in shopping and entertainment districts will offer a safer thoroughfare, whilst enhancing the ‘liveability’ of our communities.

“This is about giving businesses support to reopen in safe and new ways, ensuring they can recover strongly and quickly,” says Minister for Small Business Jaala Pulford.

A state-wide parklet and placemaking scheme formed the basis of Bicycle Network’s ‘Saving Victorian businesses with placemaking’ submission last year, and was also a key item in our 2021/22 federal budget submission.

You can read more about the Outdoor Economy Package here.

This article was made possible by the support of Bicycle Network's members who enable us to make bike riding better in Australia.