CBD kiosks deactivated

CBD kiosks deactivated

Nine CBD kiosks will be removed by the end of the year after the City of Melbourne announced it would not renew the leases when they expire in November.

All the rectangular shaped kiosks in the city will be removed, but the circular kiosks will remain. The council’s Street Trading Team Leader Hugh Kilgower said the kiosks, which sell newspapers and small items, had become anachronistic.

“When I was a kid, newspapers were sold at street corners. Council assisted newsagents back in the day with putting structures in place,” he said.

“Over time, the city has changed and evolved and there’s a lot more businesses around – 7-Elevens and supermarkets. The need for those kiosks has changed.”

Mr Kilgower said when the kiosks were installed 30 years ago the city was less active, but now they were creating “bottle necks” for foot traffic. He said this congestion was also a reason for the decision.

Council transport chairman Nicolas Frances Gilley told the Herald Sun the kiosks initially helped activate the city.

“We have great respect for the historical and cultural value of the kiosks, so we have begun reaching out for find new homes for the structures once they are removed,” he said.

One of the kiosks is heading to Collingwood Children’s Farm.

Fatih Dicle, who has run a kiosk on Elizabeth St for two-and-a-half years, told the Herald Sun he was “disappointed but not surprised”. 

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