The Melbourne Money dining scheme has returned to the city’s cafes, bars and restaurants, with $5 million allocated to encourage visitors to keep the city buzzing beyond the weekend.
Diners in the city will now be able to claim 30 per cent off their bill when they spend between $50 and $500 from Monday through Thursday.
The first round of the initiative in May saw $40 million poured into hospitality businesses, with foot traffic bouncing back three times faster than previous lockdowns.
“The first round of Melbourne Money was such a huge success that we had to come back for seconds,” Lord Mayor Sally Capp said.“When the city last enjoyed a long stretch of freedom, weekday pedestrian activity still lagged at some 60 per cent of pre-COVID-19 levels, while activity on weekends was as high as 85 per cent.”
To claim the rebate, diners must pay for the meal in full and take a photo of an itemised receipt with the business name and ABN on it.
The photo can be uploaded on the Melbourne Money website and users will be prompted to provide contact and bank details.
Once approved, the rebate is accredited to the nominated Australian bank account within five business days.
“Please take advantage of the rebate and support the great options in the City of Melbourne by coming in for a midweek meal,” said Grossi Restaurants co-owner Liz Rodriguez.
The scheme is being offered through the $200 million Melbourne City Revitalisation Fund – a joint partnership with the Victorian Government.
It is available across the entire municipality including Southbank, Chinatown, Lygon Street, Docklands, North Melbourne and Kensington and at hospitality venues within sporting, arts and theatre precincts.
It will continue until the $5 million funding is exhausted.
Victoria’s live music industry to receive $20 million shot in the arm
Minister for Creative Industries Danny Pearson has announced a $20 million Live Music Restart package that will support the return of live music to the state.
Music venues will receive $8 million to recruit and train new staff, invest in COVIDSafe infrastructure and get more musicians and industry professionals back in the sector.
Meanwhile, music events and festivals will also get an $8 million boost to help them recover from the uncertainty and impact of rescheduled and cancelled events.
The final $4 million will be used to bring music performances to the heart of the city, complementing the $5 million already in place for regional and outer-suburban events.
An Australian-first COVID-19 event insurance product will give event organisers a safety net to plan and stage future shows.
The 12-month scheme, subsidised by the Government and delivered through the Victorian Managed Insurance Authority (VMIA) will ensure up to $230 million of events against cancellation due to public health measures, or where events have reduced capacity due to restrictions.
Funding will be made available through Creative Victoria, with application details to be announced soon.
Updated at 10.36am AEDT on 15 November 2021.
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