Maribyrnong’s outdoor dining campaign is continuing until April 2022 following overwhelming community support for the initiative. It will also be expanded to increase parklet and pop up park activation in Footscray and West Footscray.

Originally a temporary measure to extend the footprint of the venues outdoor spaces, the outdoor dining program has been embraced by our community. Feedback from more than a thousand outdoor dining patrons supported an extension of the trial, recognising the program has supported community connection during COVID, and the vast majority want to see this continue.

A structural review has confirmed the temporary parklets will stand up to another eight months use until April 2022. Before the end of the extended trial, the community will be asked their views on whether the initiative should become a permanent feature, as part of the development of an outdoor dining policy to specifically test this option.

The outdoor dining in Ballarat Street, Yarraville has been one of the highlights of Council’s outdoor dining program, with community and trader calls to make this a permanent feature but also feedback to indicate Anderson Street has experienced further traffic congestion as a result of the installation.

Council is investigating the opportunity to support this as part of a wider global traffic study of the area, in collaboration with Metro Trains Melbourne. This study, will provide recommendations regarding future traffic planning options in and around Yarraville Village.

The outdoor dining project was delivered with an initial State Government grant of $500,000 in 2020 with a second grant of $250,000 in 2021 supporting the extension and expansion.

More information

For more information about the history of the project or a list of outdoor dining eateries in the City of Maribyrnong, visit www.yourcityyourvoice.com.au/parklets