Melbourne A 24 Hours City

Source: Herald Sun
Date: 6/3/09

ALL-night public transport, midnight soccer and cash bonds to force pubs to behave are part of Mayor Robert Doyle's vision for a 24-hour city.

While Cr Doyle wants Melbourne to become a round-the-clock city, don't expect the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas.

"I don't mean by that just blazing lights and open all hours," Cr Doyle said. "It means there's activity in the city 24 hours a day, and that's where I think we'll end up."

A report on Melbourne as a 24-hour city will go before council on Tuesday, calling for all-night public transport, permanent breathalyser stations and even self-defence classes for young people.

The report, by council's community and culture department, also calls for the MCC to investigate:

COMPULSORY food service when alcohol is served.

FREE film nights aimed at young people.

SLOW zones where classical music is played.

Safety is a priority. The report includes ideas raised at the council's City Safety Summit in 2008, which involved more than 80 people from government, community groups and business.

Cr Doyle said he supported cash bonds for licensees, who would lose money if they broke regulations.

"At some point we are going to have to demonstrate that we are serious about licensing being a responsibility.

"If we have venues that continually flout the rules we will be forced to move to take their licence away, and I would support that," the Lord Mayor said.

People coming to a city that never slept needed a way to get home safely, he said, and that meant improving transport.

"One of the things I have suggested is the taxi rank, (but) one of the long-term strategies that has been suggested is 24-hour transport, which I think would be an excellent innovation for our city," Cr Doyle said.

He supported the concept of self-defence classes for young people in the CBD, but this was about keeping people fit, not just about learning defence skills.

Midnight sports events such as street soccer were another option for the CBD.

Above all, he said, people who lived in the CBD must be protected
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It seems the new Mayor has great vision and sound leadership to lead the way. It's good thing John So decided not to run for Mayor again and gracefully gave way for new leaderships.

For CLMC, almost the same situation. The new pastor has clear directions ahead and know what's important and good.

It seems Melbourne and CLMC will be enjoying a good run for in the near future.

Thank God for that.