Hobsons Bay council has approved a liquor licence for the Williamstown library cafe in a bid to find a new operator.
The cafe has been vacant since Yooralla closed its doors last November, putting about 10 people with disabilities out of work.
The closure came nearly a year after Yooralla closed its other UCAN cafe at Altona North library, which also remains vacant.
Councillor Angela Altair told last week’s council meeting it had been a struggle to find a new operator for Williamstown library cafe.
“Here’s a council facility that’s going begging, and not for want of trying on the council’s part, to try and introduce a social enterprise operation which, unfortunately, despite absolutely every effort, just didn’t work out.
“Hopefully, with this very limited liquor licence it will make it a much more viable operation for the new operator.”
A report presented to last week’s council meeting stated that valuable income was being lost while the cafe was not being used as intended.
A cafe licence only allows alcohol to be served when food is also served.
The licence also precludes overtly late night operations.
The report to the council states that alcohol serving hours will be tighter than those allowed under the Victorian Commission for Gaming and Liquor Regulation.
Opening hours will be matched to those of surrounding businesses to protect residential amenity.
Proposed serving hours are noon until 3pm then 5pm until 10pm.
