Southbankers reluctant to speak

It would seem that Southbankers are tongue-tied when it comes to saying what they want. An online survey designed to improve the range and style of food, beverage and leisure activities on offer to Southbank residents has attracted minimal response in its four months of operation.

The survey grows out of a key finding from a 2022 City of Melbourne survey that residents were wanting more appropriate hospitality choices than is currently available.

However, the follow-up survey run by the Yarra River Business Association, and backed by the City of Melbourne, has largely fallen on deaf ears.

Just over 10 per cent of the required response to make it statistically accurate have been collected since last November.

YRBA president Jeremy Vincent said the survey is a genuine opportunity for locals to tell businesses what they want.

“Rather than just providing a once-a-year dinner for a wedding anniversary, we want to present a suitably diverse range of food and beverage options, at appropriate price points, that can be enjoyed several times a week.”

“The river strip has a very strong tourism focus, but COVID has shown that putting all one’s eggs in the same basket can be catastrophic as a business model.”

“In conjunction with the City of Melbourne’s Neighbourhood Officer, we designed the survey to tease out details about leisure time activity generally in the precinct.”

“It will complement the more urban design and neighbourhood planning focus of the council’s earlier survey,” Mr Vincent said.

The seven-minute survey, produced by branding and placemaking company Right Angle, can be found at youryarra.melbourne

However, YRBA has also appointed long-time Southbank Local Jill Bartholomeusz to take to the streets and buildings of the suburb to interview people face-to-face. Until recently, Jill was librarian and student welfare coordinator at Southbank’s Photography Studies College.

A key prize of a dinner for two people on the Spirit of Melbourne (valued $350), plus 10 x $50 local dining vouchers are available in a prize pool. •

For more information:

Tim Bracher, YRBA

0412 502 931