Melbourne is Australia's most "happening" city

Melbourne needs to be run like a year-long event | theage.com.au

Melbourne needs to be run like a year-long event

* Wayne Kayler-Thomson
* December 8, 2008

ONCE, Melbourne was seen as staid and bleak. Now it is Australia's most "happening" city, transformed over several decades by major events that draw tourists from overseas and interstate, and visitors from across Victoria.

Tourists need hospitality and entertainment, and the supply has grown to meet the demand — to the benefit of all.

At least, that's the theory. In practice, of course, the tourist boom and burgeoning hospitality industry have come with some strings attached.

As happens with tourist drawcards the world over, too many visitors can blight what attracts them in the first place.

The dazzling growth of 24-hour entertainment options in the city has attracted more people, week in and week out, which has, in turn, made the city less attractive — especially at weekends — because of street violence.

To avoid being victims of our own success — easier said than done — we should take our cue from the success of the same major events that helped start the whole cycle.

The management of major events in Melbourne has reached such a pitch that we are often referred to as the world's events capital. Crowd control, security and hospitality standards are among the best anywhere.

The fact is that when events such as the Australian Open or the grand prix are running, the streets are generally safer because of the large numbers of people, and the fact that there is a planned and co-ordinated effort by police, private security firms, taxi groups and public transport operators.

The point is this: if it can be done for the grand prix or the grand final, then it should be done at weekends for the rest of the year, especially in the busy summer period.

While industry standards have improved enormously in recent years, there is an opportunity to create new standards of excellence in the hospitality sector — especially pubs and nightclubs — in crowd control, security, customer relations and responsible service of alcohol. For example, more distinctive uniforms for front-line security staff and visible photo identification will add to their authority and credibility.

Drinking on the street, partly due to smokers going outside, needs to be curbed and managed properly by venue security staff.

Lack of timely and safe private and public transport aggravates the violence problem, and private industry can assist here. A better co-ordinated taxi service with security marshals outside key venues would help prevent fights over taxis and clear crowds in a more efficient way.

Training and accreditation are crucial to this. While the quality and range of courses have improved dramatically over the past decade, they should be taken to new levels. In light of the new demand-driven training reforms, our key industry associations and training providers have a key leadership role to play.

Overall, better relationships between licensed premises, security firms, transport operators and police are essential to eliminate grey areas of responsibility and stop buck-passing. This can be assisted by better resourcing and more co-ordination among these groups in relation to weekends.

If the industry does not take steps to elevate itself, the Government will respond to media and electoral pressure and impose solutions such as the recent "near-death" experience for the industry of the 2am lockouts.

There is no quick fix for the problem of street violence, but striving for the highest world standards in crowd control, security, hospitality and responsible service of alcohol will ensure we keep our reputation as a safe, attractive location not only for major events but for everyone, all year round.

Wayne Kayler-Thomson is chief executive officer of the Victorian Employers Chamber of Commerce and Industry.