RESTAURANT and cafe goers could soon be dining outdoors at popular venues throughout Bunbury’s CBD.
Alfresco dining looks set to be trialled in popular spots such as the Prince of Wales Hotel, Caf-Fez, Mojos, Drooley’s Pizza and Cafe 140 over this year’s summer months.
Alfresco dining, or eating outside in areas with high foot traffic, is popular in summer around the world because it encourages vibrant street activity.
Interest in initiating the trial was announced by City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan at a council briefing on Tuesday night.
"In Europe there are a lot of the cafes that have planter boxes and bike racks attached to their alfresco areas – we are supportive of that because we think it beautifies the areas and attracts foot traffic"
- Caf-Fez co-owner Michael Grove.
Mr Brennan told the Bunbury Mail that his vision was to section off parts of Victoria Street on popular nights of the week, allowing businesses to expand alfresco dining out onto the street.
This means some roads would be closed to traffic for the period – for example from 6pm to 10.30pm – before venues cleared the section at night’s end.
Emergency service vehicles would still have access.
Caf-Fez co-owner Michael Grove told the Mail that he was pleased to see the idea progress, but would prefer fixed alfresco dining rather than a seasonal night option.
“That [temporary] idea was brought up a few years ago but I thought we’d moved on from that,” Mr Grove said.
He said constantly erecting and dismantling alfresco areas would frustrate staff.
“In Europe there are a lot of the cafes that have planter boxes and bike racks attached to their alfresco areas – we are supportive of that because we think it beautifies the areas and attracts foot traffic,” he said.
The fixed option would not require street closure, instead using parking bays.
"It is a concept that would add further vitality through more [social activity] among our community and visitors"
- City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan.
Mr Brennan said there were several aspects that businesses would need to comply with to have alfresco dining areas, including parking, traffic and pedestrian safety and health and heritage compliance.
Business owners would be responsible for associated development costs.
“However the City has been working closely with these people to look at ways of facilitating their requests,” he said.
He said the vibrancy and success of Victoria Street’s cappuccino strip had inspired other business owners to look at options to take advantage of outdoor dining.
“It is a concept that would add further vitality through more [social activity] among our community and visitors,” Mr Brennan said.
The Mail understands two fixed alfresco dining applications are already “well and truly on their way.”
Council will need to approve partial road closures, assess traffic impacts and get outdoor eating licences from each venue before the trial takes place.
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