Council has provided landlord consent to the current tenants of the North Point café to commence the planning process for a new restaurant and an accessible public toilet to be built on the current site of the café. Council will also advertise its intention, in accordance with section 190 and 223, to enter into a 21 year lease with the tenant over the coming weeks and provide consent for the applicant to apply to have its liquor licence amended.
The Mayor, Cr Michael Heffernan said:
"The current tenants' proposal is financially attractive to Council as it alleviates the need to use ratepayer funds to replace the building. It is fitting that the tenants are compensated with a long term lease in exchange for their financial outlay."
"I have carefully listened to the feedback on both sides of the proposal and believe the proposal is both sensible and appropriate."
"The revised hours of operation are most reasonable as the proposed use is as a restaurant and not a bar. I don't believe anti-social behaviour will be an issue with the facility operating as a restaurant. "
"This is a prime location on our magnificent foreshore and it is fitting that it be made available for the wider Bayside and Melbourne community to enjoy."
As part of the statutory process, the public is welcome to make submissions on the proposed lease by Friday 14 June. Details of how to make a submission can be found at bayside.vic.gov.au/haveyoursay Submitters can also request to be heard before a Special Committee of Council to be held on Wednesday, 10 July 2019 at 6:30pm in the Council Chambers, Boxshall Street, Brighton.
As per the Council resolution, the tenant will now engage an architect to prepare detailed plans which will then be advertised to the public under the statutory planning requirements.
The North Point Café currently has an 'On Premise' liquor licence that allows them to serve alcohol from 7am to 8:30pm day light savings time and 7am to 6:00pm non-daylight saving time. The proposal is to amend the liquor licence from an 'On Premise' to a 'Restaurant / Cafe Licence' with hours from Monday - Wednesday: 11:30am - 9:30pm Thursday - Sunday: 11:30am - 11:00pm Public Holiday: 11:30am - 11:00pm Public Holiday Eve: 11:30am - 11:00pm.11:30am to 11:00pm.
The existing licence allows the site to serve alcohol without food. The current tenant has run the café for close to 15 years with no major issues reported to Council. Council has confidence in the tenant to continue to run the facility in a similar way with a more restrictive licence.
The proposed amended liquor licence is considered a more restrictive type of licence as the predominant activity carried out at all times on the premises must be the preparation and serving of meals to be consumed on the licensed premises. The licence does not allow alcohol to be purchased and taken off site.
