Yarra City Council has approved an extension to its temporary outdoor dining program until the end of October.

The temporary program has received an overwhelming approval rating of 95 per cent from residents and business owners, with local traders recognising the positive outcomes it provides as part of our COVID-19 response and recovery efforts.

Since the program was introduced, Yarra has created over 485 additional outdoor dining spaces including 150 new footpath trading areas, 200 extensions to existing footpath trading, 130 on-street parklets and 8 large-scale outdoor dining spaces created through road or laneway closures.

As part of the extension, Council will also introduce a tiered fee structure for parklet permits from 1 August 2021. This will ensure businesses who are directly benefiting from a parklet are contributing to their cost while promoting a fair and equitable use of public space.

Council also approved a further waiver to footpath trading fees until 1 August 2021.