As part of the revitalisation for Melbourne Street, temporary footpath extensions were installed in late November 2022. The footpath extension trial responded directly to consultation feedback received about the existing on-street pedestrian experience and the desire to see pedestrian amenity improved. The trial allowed Council to monitor the impact of additional outdoor space on visitor use of the street, and whether changing footpath use can shift perceptions of Melbourne Street from an arterial route into the city to a precinct destination.

Two temporary footpath extension areas were identified in consultation with associated businesses; The Lord Melbourne Hotel, Botten + Bowser and the Himalayan Kitchen. These footpath extensions were edged with planter boxes to provide additional usable pedestrian space and to contribute an element of on-street greening with low-level plants. The installation of the footpath extension coincided with the removal of the hoarding and reinstatement of the footpath at the Botten + Bowser development site, and the trial was designed to have minimal impacts on street parking with parking spaces allocated to the trial offset by new spaces in West Pallant Street and Dunn Street.

Feedback on the trial footpath extension was reviewed on an ongoing basis, with a comprehensive evaluation after twelve months of the trial.