Council and authorities are working to ensure the expected influx of Melbourne tourists to Hepburn Shire from next week will be COVID-safe.
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After the first lockdown was lifted, hundreds of tourists descended on the Hepburn region - flocking to markets, waterfalls and eateries.
With Melburnians having been under stricter Stage 4 lockdowns for several months during the second lockdown, it is anticipated many will look to escape the city when the border between Melbourne and regional Victoria is finally lifted on November 9.
Chief Executive of Daylesford Macedon Tourism, Steve Wroe, said it was expected that visitation would exceed normal levels at this time of year - likely to be several thousand people per week more than normal.
"We want to preserve our reputation as Melbourne's favourite getaway spot, and ensure that the visitor experience is great, our community feels safe, and our businesses are able to trade in a safe, efficient, and profitable way," he said.
Police response
Acting Senior Sergeant Matthew Flood, who is the Operations Manager for Hepburn and Golden Plains, said police working in Hepburn Shire would be focused on providing a visible presence.
"We want to achieve that balance with people coming to support businesses but we need to make sure it is responsible, respectful and while keeping everyone healthy and safe," he said.
There was a lot of anxiety within the Hepburn community when the first lockdown was lifted, around the potential spread of the virus to the region.
He said this resulted in some "pretty poor behaviour" - property damage, aggressive confrontations and verbal abuse directed at people deemed to be visiting from Melbourne.
Acting Senior Sergeant Flood said police wanted to prevent this behaviour from occurring again, so would be out on the streets in areas brimming with visitors to provide reassurance to the community.
Police will also regularly walk through licensed premises, pubs and beer gardens, to ensure people are behaving responsibly and safely.
They will draw additional resources from neighbouring 24-hour stations - Bacchus Marsh and Ballarat - to achieve these proactive patrols, if required.
Acting Senior Sergeant Flood said police had been working with traders and businesses throughout the year and wanted to reassure them again that if they experienced any issues, they could call police for assistance.
Streetscape changes
Hepburn Shire Council's Chief Executive Officer, Evan King, said the council's top priority was to ensure the Hepburn community would be protected when tourists returned.
Mr King said during the Queen's Birthday long weekend, Daylesford made headlines when it was "heaving with visitors wanting to experience the best of our shire".
"We saw that the footpaths on Vincent Street were not wide enough to cope with the pedestrian traffic and allow physical distancing at the same time, and that will be the case again, especially with businesses being encouraged to use footpaths for outdoor dining."
Mr King said the council had been working closely with businesses and agencies - such as Victoria Police, Central Highlands Rural Health, Daylesford Macedon Tourism and the
Department of Health and Human Services - to ensure COVID-safe plans were put in place so the town could cope with potentially large crowds.
We saw that the footpaths on Vincent Street were not wide enough to cope with the pedestrian traffic and allow physical distancing at the same time, and that will be the case again, especially with businesses being encouraged to use footpaths for outdoor dining.
- Evan King
To address this, the council will implement changes to Vincent Street from Friday to slow down traffic, allow pedestrians space to physically distance and and hospitality businesses space to provide outdoor dining.
Mr King said the changes balanced the needs of businesses with the need to make Vincent Street safe for everyone.
The plan involves parking on the east and west sides of Vincent Street (south of the pedestrian crossing) repurposed to allow pedestrians to use this space.
Meanwhile, the north side of the pedestrian crossing will remain open with loading zones, accessible parking and a taxi rank.
The speed limit will also be reduced to 20km/h along Vincent Street, so it is safer for pedestrians, and there will be extra cleaners working on the street during busy periods and extra bins to hold the increase in takeaway food being sold.
"We also have escalation plans if we need more room for physical distancing, which sees further changes - from making Vincent Street a one-way street to completely closing the street as the last step to ensure the safety of all," Mr King said.
Extra signage will be placed along Vincent Street to remind everyone of the responsibility to be COVID-safe, including signs with COVID-safe messaging designed by the region's youth through a Daylesford Blue Light art competition.
These posters will be pinned up in coming weeks.
Mr King said everyone needed to remember the rules - maintain physical distancing, wear a mask and stay home if you are unwell to keep everyone safe.
While there are wider footpaths in Trentham, the council also has a traffic management plan ready to implement there if need be.
It is not anticipated that vast amounts of visitors will flock to Creswick and Clunes, but Mr King said the council would monitor the towns too.
To see the Vincent Street traffic management plan, visit https://www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/covid-safe-plans-for-shire-footpaths/
