"From lockdown to boomtown" was the theme of a speech Capp delivered for a TEDx speak on the Capitol Theatre on Friday afternoon.
"There aren't many who will stand in entrance of an viewers like this and say COVID has been good for something or anybody," she stated within the speech.
"However I am right here to do exactly that."
She mentioned how lockdowns impressed an out of doors eating renaissance and new gourmand residence supply providers.
The information media was not permitted to movie Capp's ticketed presentation, however her feedback have nonetheless sparked a heated response.
Enterprise house owners have blasted the speech as untimely, given many Victorians are nonetheless struggling after a few of the world's longest lockdowns.
"It's totally insensitive to the individuals who misplaced lives, misplaced companies, misplaced their training, misplaced their marbles," Cherry Bar proprietor James Younger.
"Saying that COVID was good and we have already recovered is like enjoying the fiddle whereas Melbourne is burning so far as I am involved."
The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Trade has stated shutting Melbourne down for greater than 260 days was a catastrophe.
"Folks misplaced their lives, folks obtained sick, companies had been destroyed," Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Trade CEO Paul Guerra stated.
When requested concerning the feedback in Capp's speech, Opposition Chief Matthew Man was utterly in disagreement with them.
"Anybody who thinks that was a very good factor is simply tremendously out of contact," he stated.
In the meantime, the premier had a lot much less to say on the matter.
"That is a matter for her," Daniel Andrews stated.
The Lord Mayor's speech did acknowledge that many companies are struggling, and that with metropolis workplace occupancy charges round 45 per cent, there may be nonetheless a whole lot of work to be performed.
Aussie cities come again to life as lockdown restrictions ease