A record investment in street cleaning and new lantern-look light installations will enhance the CBD’s historic Chinatown and attract more visitors, says City of Melbourne Council.
Council says more than $1 million will be spent on high-pressure cleaning across the city, with a focus on the Chinatown precinct.
It will also spend around $150,000 on new light installations to improve visibility and accessibility.
“Melbourne’s Chinatown is ranked among the world’s top 10 – so it comes as no surprise that after a tough two years, it’s back on its feet, full of life again,” said Melbourne Lord Mayor, Sally Capp.
“We’re ramping up cleaning efforts and delivering the infrastructure local traders need to attract more visitors and boost business.
“This ongoing investment will ensure the Chinatown precinct remains a popular city hot-spot for many years to come,” she said.
Works to install the new lighting are set to commence in the coming months and will take approximately four weeks to complete.
The newly established Melbourne Chinatown Association will also receive a grant of up to $90,000 this financial year from Council’s Business Precinct Program.
The funds will be used to support a range of new events and activities to drive visitation and spend in the Chinatown precinct.
“As the longest continuous Chinese settlement in Australia, Chinatown is one of the city’s top tourist attractions and an iconic part of Melbourne,” said Business and Global Opportunities portfolio lead, Councillor Kevin Louey.
“We’re proud to invest and work alongside local businesses in Chinatown to ensure our iconic precinct continues to grow and strengthen after the pandemic.”
Council says pedestrian activity for the precinct reached 95% of pre-pandemic levels in June.
