Latest articles by Brendan Rees
Ibby follows his dreams after a “life of hardship and struggle” in his homeland
Escaping violence in his homeland of West Africa to setting up his own business, Ibby of Southbank said he was “forever grateful” for his new life.
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Popular café at the ABC closes its doors
A much-loved café at the ABC’s Southbank Centre has been forced to close indefinitely, saying the city’s sixth lockdown had been the final straw.
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Caught on cam: Thieves steal bike after breaking into apartment building
A Southbank woman has been left devastated after brazen thieves were caught on CCTV pinching her bicycle from her apartment building in Southbank on September 25.
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Construction shutdown halts works on Southbank Boulevard
Work on the Southbank Boulevard project which has already faced delays and disruptions will resume after the construction sector was shut down for two weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
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From bookshop worker to published editor, Suzy is living her dream
For Suzy Garcia, reading literary pieces hasn’t just been a way of escaping lockdown boredom: she is now an accomplished contributing editor of a published book.
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Never-ending works are “just the usual”
Residents say they’ve yet to see “value for money” as works drag on with City of Melbourne’s problem-plagued project to transform Southbank Boulevard into people-friendly public spaces.
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Dining scheme set to return after injecting $40 million into the city
The City of Melbourne’s popular Melbourne Money scheme – which pumped $40 million into the city’s economy – is set to return for “another round” once the sixth lockdown ends.
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Crown’s One Queensbridge site hangs in the balance
Southbank residents look set to face a longer wait as to whether a “ghastly” site opposite Crown will be developed as the casino giant fights for its licence amid two Royal Commissions.
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Makayla is a class act
When Victoria entered lockdown 5.0 last month many families may have fretted, but for prep teacher Makayla Bulte remote teaching is just like “riding a bike”.
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Southbank intersection fix underway
A “carefully designed” safety fix at Southbank’s notorious City Rd/Power St intersection is underway after a $2.5m investment was announced.
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“Heartbreak” for businesses after enduring fifth lockdown
Businesses in Southbank are counting the cost of the fifth lockdown as the recovery “appears to be the worst of them all”, according to the Yarra River Business Association.
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Joy and smiles all round as South Melbourne Primary students head back to school
From virtual high-fives to learning selfies, lockdown has proven no barrier for South Melbourne Primary School.
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Southgate vision a step closer but residents say “they haven’t even met one of us”
A controversial plan to redevelop the Southgate complex with a mix of shops, eateries, and commercial offices could be considered this month despite residents saying they still haven’t been consulted.
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Crown Melbourne bosses step down
Crown Melbourne’s CEO Xavier Walsh and Crown Resorts chair Helen Coonan will stand down by August 20 – just weeks after a Royal Commission heard the casino giant was not suitable to hold a casino licence.
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Booksellers unite in new chapter to halt city exodus
For Jaye Chin-Dusting, the owner of Mary Martin Bookshop in Southbank, finding creative ways to attract customers has been no easy feat amid repeated lockdowns.
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New vision for Tea House site
A $100 million revamp could see the site surrounding Southbank’s historic Robur Tea House transformed into a hotel with “world-class” hospitality and retail spaces if approved by the City of Melbourne.
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Lockdown hits business recovery
Southbank traders have been dealt a “major psychological blow” after enduring its fourth lockdown, with many saying the road to recovery had been slow and frustrating.
Read MoreSlow bounce back from lockdown as office return falls
Office occupancy in Melbourne’s CBD plunged to 26 per cent of pre-COVID levels in June as the city endured its fourth lockdown, new Property Council data has shown.
Read MoreNew funding to improve safety of women at night
The City of Melbourne will use new crime prevention funding to help improve the safety of women and gender-diverse people at night.
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Council picks up vaccination slack
People who get a COVID-19 jab will be rewarded with “irresistible offers” as part of a new City of Melbourne campaign.
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