Overview
In its efforts to help the state recover from the pandemic, the Victorian Government has spent the last six months trying to entice Melburnians out of the house. First, to boost the local tourism sector, it offered up vouchers for travel to regional areas. Next, it rolled out the same initiative to Melbourne, to do the same in the CBD. Now, it wants to give the inner city's hospitality industry a helping hand, so it's bringing in a new plan. Called the CBD Dining Experiences Scheme, and set to launch in the coming weeks, it'll offer rebates for having a meal in the City of Melbourne — up to a maximum of $100.
Announced on Sunday, May 9 as part of the Victorian Government's next $260 million in spending to revitalise the city, and set to be included in the 2021–22 Victorian Budget, the CBD Dining Experiences Scheme will provide 20-percent rebates on cafe and restaurant bills. Details on how it'll work, how Melburnians will claim their cash back, who it'll apply to and any other caveats haven't been revealed as yet, and neither has an exact start date; however, the minimum you'll be able to get back is $10 (so, you'll need to be spending at least $50).
The Victorian Government will provide $7.4 million towards the scheme, with the City of Melbourne kicking in another $1 million. The dining initiative comes after the success of the aforementioned Melbourne Travel Voucher Scheme — and adapts an idea that's already been rolled out in New South Wales (and, before that, in the UK as well).
Josie Withers, Visit Victoria
Also part of the broader $260 million spending package: $100 million to create the Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund, which'll be used to help renew city spaces — by funding arts and cultural events in the CBD, and supporting small businesses as they recover from the past year. It'll be matched by the same investment by the City of Melbourne, too, creating a pool of $200 million in total.
The Victorian Government will also allocate $55 million to Visit Victoria, to be put into campaigns to attract visitors to Melbourne.
Announcing the funding plans, Acting Victorian Premier James Merlino said that "life is returning to the CBD, and we're making sure the recovery continues with support for all of the things that Victorians and visitors love about Melbourne. We're backing the buzz of our cafes, restaurants and bars – and the people who make their living from them."
Melbourne's CBD Dining Experiences Scheme is set to start in the coming weeks. For more information, head to the Victorian Government website.