The North's enviable outdoor lifestyle will now be easier to enjoy with councillors today voting to cut red tape and endorse a policy that encourages footpath dining and shopping across The Strand and city centre.
Townsville City Council's new Outdoor Dining and Footpath Activation Policy – passed unanimously at today's Ordinary Meeting – revokes the need for a specific permit, and information about insurance coverage, for most businesses seeking to undertake footpath trade across the city.
The policy instead provides a general statement of permission for outdoor dining to hospitality operators across the city that meet general, easy-to-achieve requirements.
Free and streamlined processes remain in place – after originally being introduced in 2023 – for those businesses that do not meet the general requirements, with Council committed to assessing applications from outlying operators on a case-by-case basis.
For the first time the new policy will also encompass retailers, with Council encouraging shop owners – particularly in the city centre – to place their goods on footpaths to generate interest and enliven the street.
Townsville Acting Mayor Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said Council was committed to enriching the city centre and enhancing The Strand's already enviable reputation as a lifestyle destination for locals and visitors alike.
Councillor Greaney said Council had keenly taken onboard the advice of renowned place-maker and urban planner David Engwicht who, on the invitation of the local business-led Uptown Group and Council, visited in March and again in June to assess and advise on opportunities to revamp the city centre.
During his visit, Mr Engwicht recommended the use of permission statements to allow city traders to trade on their footpaths in a bid to create points of interest and activate the precinct.
"As Mr Engwicht pointed out, our city centre has 'very good bones' and there are so many steps we can take – some small and simple such as this one – to really enhance and enliven the area," Cr Greaney said.
"We have city centre traders already doing a wonderful job of making the most of their footpaths, Gecko Interiors being a stand-out example.
"Under this new policy, we are inviting and encouraging more of that."
Councillor Greaney said hospitality venues on the Strand were being encouraged to explore options for outdoor dining, as provided by the new policy.
"Council is committed to approving the use of the Strand foreshore for outdoor dining in a way that balances community expectations for other uses of the space and is not detrimental to the amenity of The Strand," Cr Greaney said.
"We have had some learnings in this space over the past 18 months and we are pleased that, now this new policy has been written and adopted, we can ensure we get that balance right."
Council's new Outdoor Dining and Footpath Activation Policy will replace the existing Outdoor Dining Policy.
It will be reviewed in four years' time.
