Ms THEOPHANOUS (Northcote): In response to the pandemic, the Victorian government introduced outdoor dining to support our hospitality businesses during one of the most challenging periods in a generation. Born out of necessity in a time of crisis, outdoor dining and parklets have been embraced by Melburnians, including in my electorate of Northcote. The parklets have encouraged people to shop local and allowed businesses to expand their trading area. It has created jobs and a strong sense of community, with a beautiful European open-air vibe. There are 21 businesses across Darebin that have been approved for parklets, adding an additional 1500 seats to cafes and restaurants. It is not a huge number, but it has made a big difference. But while many councils are now engaging with their communities about long-term parklet options, Darebin council has just told our traders that their parklets will end abruptly at the end of September—no discussion, no engagement. Council officers will be out to dismantle their parklets shortly. I cannot even describe the stress and anguish this has caused local businesses in my community who invested in these spaces and hired staff for them and who are still feeling the impact of the last two years. They are devastated. In some cases it means a third of their trade will now be wiped out. It means local jobs will get extinguished from our suburbs. We need those jobs. While so many other councils, including neighbouring Banyule, have engaged with their communities and are putting in place policies for parklets to continue, from Darebin council it is just a blanket, cold-hearted no. That is not the way to build community or economic prosperity. It is not the way to safeguard local jobs. It is a kick in the guts when we have been working towards promoting economic activity in Northcote.
