The future of Lygon St is no laughing matter!

The Carlton Residents’ Association (CRA) has had a long-standing interest and involvement in Lygon St as the activity spine of the Carlton community.

Lygon St has had its ups and downs but through reinvention and the commitment of traders and residents to its commercial and community roles.

We all have an investment in Lygon St.

We can be proud of what has been achieved over generations of social and cultural change, but complacency and a lack of public infrastructure investment threaten the long-term viability of Lygon St.

While Lygon St continues to seek out a toe hold in the City of Melbourne’s social, cultural and culinary calendar most attention is on the viability of the CBD.

The recent wave of new restaurants along Lygon St with their long queues will however be short-lived and whilst we can get a laugh or two, we need a long-term plan for the future of the Lygon St, not a short-term comedic hit.

The CRA has proposed and has been supported by Carlton Inc. in a rejuvenation of the street, its mobility, amenity and attractiveness.

The plan will herald in a new era for Lygon St and will attract the local community and a wider visitor community to spend time enjoying the pedestrian and trader friendly environment.

So, what is the problem or, more importantly, what can be done to ensure the future vitality and sustainability of Lygon St and its role as Carlton’s activity spine?

Lygon St currently has an excessive amount of through traffic that impacts on traders, shoppers and pedestrians alike.

The noise and size of vehicles also has a deleterious impact on pedestrians, shoppers and diners.

Parklets introduced during COVID were a welcome addition to the street and have provided restaurants with outdoor environments. But they have been ad hoc in their location and design.

We need to address the future needs of the street in an integrated and sustainable way so that we all can continue to have an economic, social and environmental investment in our street.

The CRA has therefore proposed that Lygon St became a one-way street each way, that footpaths be widened to three metres and kerb parking replace the existing parklets. The wider footpaths will accommodate outdoor dining areas, so it is a win-win for traders and the community.

The rejuvenation would allow for extra low plantings and improved street cleaning. The changes would play an important role in prioritising the street’s heritage value and its role as an activity centre.

New street furniture can then provide public seating and glass screens can be designed to be a window on to the Lygon St world.

The CRA has also advocated for the part closure of Faraday St outside the Kathleen Syme Library in support of walking, cycling, public transport and traffic calming. This will add to the library’s amenity and its functioning as a community hub. It would also encourage access to Lygon St from the University.

Ideally the road closure would extend beyond Cardigan St thus creating a parkway from Swanston St to Lygon St for residents and students.

While the CRA acknowledges the new bluestone paving of the footpath on the east side of Lygon St between Queensberry and Pelham streets, it is but a small step in what is needed to ensure the rejuvenation of Lygon St and its future. We owe it to previous and future generations.

So, let's get serious about the future of Lygon St. •