CBDs see only 50% of pre-pandemic traffic

Although traffic in the CBDs increased rapidly in October and early November as lockdowns ended, it has dropped significantly in the past seven days according to the Roy Morgan movement data.

The data reveals the Melbourne CBD the average seven-day movement level has been between 43-48 per cent of pre-pandemic levels since mid-November and in the Sydney CBD the average movement level has been stuck between 40-46 per cent of pre-pandemic levels.

One of the reasons for the lack of movement has been attributed to the continuing high case load of new COVID-19 cases in both cities. Since exiting lockdown in mid-October Victoria has averaged over 1,000 new cases of COVID-19 per day and this week daily cases in NSW jumped to over 1500 as the new Omicron variant began to spread in the community.

Movement levels in the Perth CBD have jumped to 88 per cent of pre-pandemic averages – the highest they have been since the pandemic began in mid-March 2020. The increase in movement in the Perth CBD comes as WA Premier Mark McGowan has finally announced a date for the re-opening of the state’s borders – set for the first week of February 2022.

Michele Levine, CEO of Roy Morgan, said movement levels in the Sydney and Melbourne CBDs are stuck under 50 per cent of pre-pandemic levels as many CBD workers are set to continue working from home until at least early next year:

“The movement levels in Australia’s two largest cities increased rapidly when the two cities exited long lockdowns in mid-October, however the increases have stalled over the past few weeks as many workers continue to work from home,” she said.

“Even before the emergence of the ‘Omicron variant’ many businesses had already decided to allow many workers to continue working from home for the rest of the year with new policies on returning to the office to be implemented in 2022. For workers who prefer to work from home this has allowed them to continue as they have been over the last few months with barely a change.

“The test for these cities will come in the new year after the summer holidays conclude and many businesses will be expecting workers to return to the office in greater numbers. There is no doubt ‘flexible work’ is here to stay with employees not expected to work in the office every day of the week, but many businesses are pushing for workers to head into the office at least three days a week to help build a productive work culture and strengthen relationships between employees.”