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With Stage 4 restrictions taking effect, we want you to know what you can expect to see (and not see) at Fed Square during this time.
Security and Cleaning
In order to ensure Fed Square remains safe, security and cleaning services will continue during lockdown. This means a small number of security and cleaning contractors will be on site, with a COVID Safe Plan in place for these contractors.
Construction
As indicated by the Victorian Government, all construction work is going into pilot light mode for the next six weeks, including works underway at Fed Square. The Joost Greenhouse Experiment, located on Riverside Terrace, will be constructed to make safe standard within the Government restrictions before work being paused for the duration of the lockdown. While planning will continue for other Fed Square construction projects, no further construction will take place at this time.
Car Park
The Fed Square car park will remain in operation throughout the lockdown, providing parking services for essential workers within the Fed Square precinct and surrounding CBD areas.
Fed Square Staff
Fed Square staff will only be on site if required for a specific work task that cannot be done remotely, such as overseeing critical maintenance, and only for the time required to do that task.
Fed Square Tenants
Fed Square’s cultural NGV Australia and KHT are closed at this time, but virtual content for these partners can be found at fedsquare.com or ngv.vic.gov.au.
Fed Square’s food and beverage tenants are closed with the exception of 7-Eleven who are exempt from restrictions and can continue to operate 24 hours; Beer Deluxe, which will continue with takeaway and delivery at restricted times from Thursday to Sunday weekly; and In-A-Rush, which will continue with takeaway coffee and food with reduced trading hours.
Digital Façade
As has been the case throughout the coronavirus pandemic, the Digital Façade and other digital screens throughout the Fed Square precinct will display social distancing and health messages during lockdown, with no lifestyle or live content being shown.
As has been the case since Stage 3 restrictions were reimposed on 8 July, while Fed Square remains open as a thoroughfare, we encourage anyone who can stay at home to stay at home.
From 11:59pm tomorrow night (8 July), Stage 3 “Stay at Home” restrictions are being reinstated for the next six weeks across metropolitan Melbourne and some regional areas, following an increase in coronavirus cases over the past several days.
This announcement means that there are only four reasons for people in these areas to leave their homes during this time: shopping for food and essential items; care and caregiving; daily exercise; and work and study — if you can’t do it from home. Businesses will also be required to return to Stage 3 restrictions, which means restaurants and cafes will need to return to takeaway and delivery services only.
Considering these reinstated restrictions, while Fed Square remains open as a thoroughfare we encourage anyone who can stay at home to stay at home.
Fed Square is overseeing a staged and carefully coordinated reopening of Federation Square as coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions start to ease, in line with the latest Government health advice.
Following the easing of some restrictions on 1 June, several of the food and beverage retailers at Federation Square have now reopened in a limited capacity, with the remaining restaurants, bars and cafes likely to resume operating in the coming weeks.
The Ian Potter Centre: NGV Australia has announced plans to reopen the gallery from 27 June, with a reopening date for the Koorie Heritage Trust to be confirmed soon.
In line with Federation Square tenancies reopening, Fed Square is planning to resume the grassroots activities that take place weekly in the precinct, such as tai chi and meditation, from July. These activities will adhere to the latest restrictions on public gatherings and physical distancing.
The Digital Façade, a major attraction for many visitors to the precinct, will also return to screening a variety of compelling programming from later this month.
Fed Square is also working in consultation with the Victorian Government and industry to develop guidelines for the safe and successful delivery of events at Federation Square, with full details of these guidelines to be shared in due course. Fed Square is committed to working with the government and event organisers to identify when events will be able to return and how they can safely operate.
With visitors returning to Federation Square, several measures are being put in place by Fed Square to make the precinct as a safe place for everyone including:
On 11 May the Victorian Government made an announcement about the easing of some restrictions from 11:59pm on 12 May, and the continuation of other restrictions as part of a renewed State of Emergency in place until 31 May.
The restrictions being eased relate primarily to visiting friends and family, outdoor recreational activities, religious ceremonies, and weddings and funerals. Under the restrictions still in place bars, restaurants and cafes can operate as takeaway only and outdoor gatherings are limited to 10 people, and this will be the case until restrictions are reviewed again on 31 May.
If you are in Fed Square during this time please observe social distancing by keeping 1.5m between yourself and others and adhering to the limits on 10 people gathering at a time, and if you can stay at home, do stay at home.
On 13 April, the State of Emergency for Victoria in effect to manage COVID-19 was extended to 11 May 2020. This in turn means that stage three restrictions that have been issued to date by the Victorian Government to contain the spread of coronavirus have been extended, including the Restricted Activity directions and Stay at Home directions most relevant to the Fed Square community. Further information about the State of Emergency and directions from the Chief Health Officer are available at https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/state-emergency.
On 14 April, the Victorian Government also announced an expansion of testing for COVID-19 in the state. From today, anyone exhibiting symptoms relevant to coronavirus will be tested by health professionals, as the government turns its attention to better understanding and overcoming community transmission of the virus.
Fed Square also wants to extend its thanks to everyone for doing their part in social distancing to date and particularly over the Easter weekend. With Fed Square currently closed as a venue, and our Digital Façade broadcasting the government’s messages for people to stay at home, Fed Square has become a symbol of the importance of social distancing measures to overcoming this crisis and a clear example of the impressive way in which Victorians have followed these restrictions, and for that we should all be proud.
On 29 March, the National Cabinet met again to discuss the implementation of further social distancing measures. Today, 30 March, the State Government has announced that Stage 3 restrictions will come into effect across the state from 11:59pm tonight. As part of this, gatherings are restricted to no more than two people except for family members and for work or education, with playgrounds, skate parks and outdoor gyms to be closed and on the spot fines to be issued against people breaching these new directions. The National Cabinet also agreed to pursuing a moratorium on evictions for the next six months for residential and commercial tenants who are experiencing financial distress due to the impact of coronavirus. The details of how this would be implemented are being determined by Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, in consultation with state counterparts. Further information about these new measures is available here.
Considering these new restrictions, it is important to reiterate that while Fed Square remains a thoroughfare, we are closed as a venue and we encourage anyone who can stay at home to stay at home.
On 24 March, the National Cabinet announced new social distancing measures being put in place to counter the COVID-19 outbreak and reinforced several of the measures already in place. In addition to a ban on Australians travelling overseas, this latest announcement clarified and added to the list of prohibited activities and venues and exceptions to these new rules. Details of the announcement are available here, but the clear message from the Prime Minister last night and again from the Victorian Premier this morning is that anyone who can stay at home should stay at home.
While Fed Square remains a thoroughfare, we are closed as a venue. We strongly support the advice of health authorities at a Federal and State level that people who can stay at home should stay at home and suggest that people avoid coming to Fed Square. All venue spaces and tenancies at Fed Square are temporarily closed with the exception of 7-Eleven, which will remain operational during this time.
Fed Square has also made the decision to stop streaming Fed Cam on the Digital Facade until further notice. While Fed Cam is a much loved part of a visit to Fed Square, the health and safety of the community is of upmost importance at this time and Fed Square wants to do everything in its power to encourage the public to adhere to the advice provided by health authorities.
On 22 March, the National Cabinet confirmed new social distancing measures in response to the ongoing COVID-19 (Coronavirus) outbreak. Chief among these new measures is the temporary closure of many indoor venues, taking effect from midday today (23 March). These measures will be reviewed after one month. Due to these new measures it is anticipated that the majority of food and beverage tenants within the Federation Square precinct will be forced to temporarily close. Full information of these new measures is available here.
These new social distancing measures follow previous bans on outdoor gatherings of more than 500 people, indoor gatherings of more than 100 people, and indoor gatherings that allow for less than four square metres per person in the gathering space.
Fed Square is committed to working closely with its tenants, the public and other key stakeholders to ensure any disruptions and impacts brought about by the COVID-19 outbreak are minimised and Federation Square is in the best position to manage and recover from this situation.
Fed Square wishes to share an announcement made by the Premier of Victoria today, 22 March, regarding a planned shutdown of all non-essential services over the next 48 hours. The press release summarising this announcement is available here: https://www.premier.vic.gov.au/statement-from-the-premier-32/.
We expect to receive more details about these measures over the coming 24 hours and will seek to keep you informed as soon as we have more information about the impact of this upon the Fed Square community.
Late yesterday a member of Federation Square’s office staff returned a positive result for coronavirus (COVID-19).
The staff member has been in isolation since Monday, after showing symptoms over the weekend. This individual’s role is largely administrative, based wholly in the Fed Square office, and had no exposure to the public or tenants in the period after they were exposed to coronavirus (COVID-19).
As an extra precaution, all non-essential staff at Fed Square Pty Ltd were last night directed to stay home, effective from this morning, with only core staff remaining in the office. These arrangements will stay in place until further notice.
We are doing this proactively in the interests of staff and the public.
We believe this is a cautious and prudent response in an evolving situation.
For the latest information on coronavirus (COVID-19), visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
Fed Square would like to advise that all non-essential staff at Fed Square Pty Ltd are now working from home, with only core staff remaining in the office. These arrangements will stay in place until further notice.
All these actions are in place to safeguard the general public and tenants. Thank you for your ongoing support and patience during this difficult time.
Due to the outbreak of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), health authorities have advised that all non-essential, organised public gatherings of 500 or more people should be cancelled from Monday 16 March 2020. Fed Square is committed to working closely with its tenants, the public and other key stakeholders to ensure any disruptions are minimised and Federation Square is in the best position to emerge from the impacts of COVID-19 stronger than ever.
We encourage people with tickets to events scheduled over the next few weeks to contact the event organiser to confirm if the event is postponed. While cancellations are inevitable, we will work with event partners to communicate any changes quickly and clearly, in a way that minimises the impacts on visitors and the precinct’s tenants.
If you are feeling unwell or have been in close contact with someone who has coronavirus disease (COVID-19) stay at home (self-isolate). If you are concerned, please call the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398. The easiest way to protect yourself, family and friends is to pay attention to good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene:
For the latest information visit the Victorian Government’s Department of Health and Human Services website: https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus
We will endeavour to keep you updated on this situation.
Fed Square remains open for business and continues to welcome visitors from Melbourne, interstate and overseas.
There are no current plans to cancel any events, activations or any other public gatherings at Fed Square or elsewhere in Victoria due to coronavirus. Businesses and tourism operators across the precinct also remain open and need the support of the community at this time more than ever.
The outbreak in mainland China and in other parts of the world is of concern, however, the situation in Australia is significantly different. Victoria has plans in place to manage and mitigate the risks of coronavirus.
The spread of coronavirus occurs through close contact with an infected person, mostly face-to-face or within a household. It can’t jump across a room or be carried for long distances in the air. If you are not in a group at risk group of contracting coronavirus, you should go about your daily life and travel, work or study as normal. This includes continuing to use public transport, cars, taxis, hire cars, ridesharing, cycling or walking in public places.
The easiest way to protect yourself and event attendees is to pay attention to good hand hygiene and good respiratory hygiene:
For the latest information, visit https://www.dhhs.vic.gov.au/coronavirus