The conversation

We’re developing a neighbourhood approach to better understand the strengths, priorities and needs of our local communities and build the foundation for a more empowered, engaged, and participatory community.

Phase one of our Participate 3000 consultation ran between 18 October and 16 December 2021, with a wide variety of consultation channels used to achieve broad and inclusive community reach.

Gathering insights

The Participate Melbourne website was a key engagement platform featuring a detailed online survey, an interactive map, a short fill-in-the-gaps postcard and a community wall. Targeted phone surveys, community conversations and events were held to further capture feedback.

This includes ten pop-up sessions at community venues including the City Library, City Baths, Elizabeth St Pop-up Library, The Couch – International Student Centre, Fair @ Square at the Immigration Museum and in Degraves Street. Feedback was also gathered through Residents 3000, East Enders, the Drill Hall Residents Association, Ross House Association, Multicultural Hub, Melbourne Men’s Shed, City Precinct, Melbourne City North Business Association and other CBD-based business precincts through their activities, meetings, newsletters and social media channels.

The CBD Neighbourhood Partner had 100 deep-dive conversations with small business owners, residents, students, visitors, workers, people experiencing homelessness, OCs and building managers in the neighbourhood. The Business Concierge also supported the consultation by surveying businesses face-to-face and over the phone. Feedback was also gathered at three community-led trial meet-up events that were hosted in Manchester Lane, Degraves St and Coromandel Place.

Engagement reach

  • 880 total contributions

    Including surveys, postcards, interactive map pins

  • 780 contributors

    Across all engagement methods

  • 100 deep dive conversations

    With CBD Neighbourhood Partner via phone, Zoom or in-person

  • 7011 views

    On Participate Melbourne engagement pages

  • 31,945 impressions on social channels

    Through City of Melbourne's Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and WeChat

  • 20,000 circulation

    Of local newspaper articles and advertising

  • 5000 bookmarks

    Distributed through City Library, The Couch, City Baths and other community spaces

  • 87 decals

    In key locations throughout Melbourne 3000

  • 26 social media posts in local community groups

    With more than 9600 members collectively

  • 11 newsletters reaching thousands of people

    Through community and City of Melbourne channels

Who we heard from

  • 12% 12-17 year olds
  • 22% 18-25 year olds
  • 11% 26-30 year olds
  • 19% 31-40 year olds
  • 16% 41-50 year olds
  • 10% 51-60 year olds
  • 7% 61-70 year olds
  • 2% 71+ year olds

  • 65% female
  • 36% male
  • 1% non-binary
  • 1% prefer not to say

  • One percent of respondents identified as Aboriginal (1%) - 7 individuals.
  • One individual respondent identified as Torres Strait Islander.
  • One individual respondent identified as both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.
  • Three percent of respondents preferred not to say.
  • 45% of respondents spoke languages other than English at home.
  • Top languages included: Mandarin Chinese, Hindi, Spanish, Italian, French, German, Cantonese, Japanese, Malay, Vietnamese, Tagalog and Indonesian.

Respondents could select all that applied.

  • Resident 36%
  • Business owner / worker 33%
  • Visitor 20%
  • Student 19%
  • No connection 1%
  • Other 28%
  • Less than a year 16%
  • 1-5 years 44%
  • 5-10 years 16%
  • 10-20 years 14%
  • More than 20 years 10%

What we heard

  • Amenity and convenient access to work and other attractions.
  • Lifestyle and vibe - dining, drinking, shopping and entertainment.
  • Melbourne's diverse, friendly community and culture.
  • Ease of getting around the CBD on foot, by bike or by public transport.

The 48% who said yes talked about:

  • Strong hospitality and retail offerings.
  • Ease of transport and movement.
  • The CBD's liveability, vibrancy, and sense of community.
  • Reopening after lockdowns.

The 19% who said no talked about:

  • Feeling unsafe in the city.
  • Transport - some want easier car transport, while some want better active transport options.
  • Uncontrolled development.

The 33% who weren't sure talked about:

  • Uncertainty around COVID-19 impacts.
  • Transport - with opinion split between whether cars or active transport should be prioritised.
  • Excessive development.
  • More parks and greener streets.
  • More well-maintained amenities like public toilets, seating, drinking fountains and shelters.
  • Easier transport - for some this meant cheaper and more parking, while others wanted active and public transport modes prioritised.
  • A range of recreational facilities and exercise equipment.
  • Reinvigorate underused areas – more well-lit spaces, laneways and squares with greenery, street art and performances.
  • More libraries, co-working facilities, and other non-commercial spaces to support community connection.
  • More galleries, events, festivals, theatres, and outdoor art and music performances.

Safety was rated on a scale of 1 to 5, from least to most safe. The results were:

  • 1: 4%
  • 2: 16%
  • 3: 33%
  • 4: 38%
  • 5: 10%

Those who felt safe said:

  • Haven’t had any issues or been in a position where you felt unsafe.
  • Appreciate the regular presence of other people and police in the city.
  • Some of you took specific actions to ensure you feel safe, like avoiding certain areas or certain times.

Those who felt neutral said:

  • Feel that you can’t visit certain areas or that you can’t be out in the city alone or at night.
  • Experienced or heard about crimes taking place in the area or have concerns about behaviour such as drug use.

Those who felt unsafe said:

  • Feel threatened by antisocial behaviour such as street harassment, crime or drug use.
  • Feel that the police presence and response is inadequate to address these threats.

We asked respondents to identify their level of agreement or disagreement with each statement:

  • The statement respondents most strongly agreed with was It is important that I’m connected to my local community, with 77% either agreeing (39%) or strongly agreeing (38%).
  • Just under half of respondents either agreed (40%) or strongly agreed (8%) that the City of Melbourne understands the needs of the community.
  • Less than half of respondents indicated they feel connected to their local community with 33% agreeing and 9% strongly agreeing.
  • Just less than half of respondents agreed that they are informed about what is happening in their community, with 36% agreeing and 15% strongly agreeing.
  • Just under half of respondents agreed that they feel empowered to participate in community life, with 27% agreeing and 17% strongly agreeing.

Respondents said they could count on the following people for help in a crisis:

  • 68% friends
  • 64% family
  • 33% neighbours

29% of respondents have an emergency kit, 71% don't.

Neighbourhood priorities for the Melbourne CBD

  • Aboriginal Melbourne

    • More understanding and visibility of Woi Wurrung language across the city.
    • More recognition of Wurundjeri's ongoing cultural connection to Country with visibility through signage, education, placemaking and creative art initiatives.

  • Access and affordability

    • Greater support for apartment living and strata communities and more affordable housing.
    • Spaces and services are welcoming for all people including families and children, older people, migrant communities, neurodiverse people, LGBTIQ+ communities.
    • Spaces and services designed to consider use by people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds.
    • Local food production and access to fresh food.

  • Climate and biodiversity emergency

    • Decarbonising transport and keeping cars out of small streets and lanes.
    • Greening the city streets, buildings and rooftops.
    • Education programs on climate change, biodiversity and disaster preparedness.
    • More promotion and adoption of renewable energy like solar
    • Improving waste management and circular economy projects within the CBD.

  • Economy of the future

    • Enhancing resilience of the CBD through defining and promoting distinct neighbourhoods within the city.
    • More support for small businesses and diversifying hospitality offerings.
    • Affordable communal workspaces for start-ups and creatives and improving digital literacy across the city.

  • Melbourne’s unique identity and place

    • Preserving old buildings and heritage.
    • Improving street maintenance and cleanliness.
    • More events, activities, and art and support for artists and performers.
    • Strengthening Melbourne as a series of 'neighbourhoods within the neighbourhood' and not only a 'CBD'.

  • Safety and wellbeing

    • Programs spaces and tools for community connection.
    • Addressing substance use, mental health, aggressive behaviour. More police/security, better lighting.
    • Support for people experiencing homelessness.
    • Balancing needs of road and transport users.
    • More amenities e.g. toilets, seating, water fountains, shelter.
    • Recreation facilities/exercise options.
    • Addressing development impacts.
    • Support for international students.
    • Increasing off-leash areas, education for responsible pet ownership.

Draft neighbourhood priorities

See the draft neighbourhood priorities we identified during phase one of consultation.