Hobsons Bay’s parks and public land are set to become alfresco dining areas.
Planning Minister Richard Wynne said hospitality venues could use outdoor spaces and nearby parks and public land to serve patrons without a planning permit for the next 12 months. Businesses will still need permission from Hobsons Bay council.
“We understand this has been an incredibly challenging time for our hospitality venues and these exemptions will help to make sure the transition to COVID safe dining is as easy as possible,” Mr Wynne said.
Will’s Williamstown cafe co-owner Steven Do said Commonwealth Reserve opposite could become a dining venue, which he said was preferable to converting the parking space outside his business into a parklet.
“It is a very good option and I believe it will create an effect that draws people to the Williamstown beach hub and it will create a lot of traffic,” he said.
“But we need that parking because Nelson Place … to lose parking, it will affect the businesses.
“If all these tables were able to be moved to onto the park opposite … people would be more likely to come to the area.”
Williamstown Chamber of Commerce vice president Craig Turton, who owns Santorini Greek restaurant, said several businesses had discussed banding together to share outdoor space.
“For example, in Cole Street, which is where we are, ourselves and the Steam Packet and Burger Culture got together and said, how about if we close part of the road and turn it into a big picnic area and turfed it.”
Altona’s Ilch Mickovski, who has been speaking on behalf of Altona Village Traders Association, Laverton Traders Association,
Newport Traders Association and Williamstown Chamber of Commerce said Logan Reserve in Altona could become another dining area.
“We need to keep evolving; it needs to happen,” he said.
“But the challenge with that is the business owner would be responsible for their chairs and tables and then the challenge from there would be the contact tracing system that they would need to implement and making sure those tables are cleaned.”
