NEW ideas for alfresco dining in Bunbury could inject a stylish Melbourne edge into the city's CBD.
At last night's meeting, councillors supported a proposal to install converted sea containers outside Mojos Cafe on Victoria Street and Cafe 140 on the corner of Stirling and Victoria Streets.
Deputy mayor Brendan Kelly said it was proposals like this that gave our city the edge it needed and would attract more people into the CBD.
Councillor Judy Jones said this move would bring a sense of Melbourne’s Southbank dining precinct into Bunbury and was excited the council had approved it.
City of Bunbury Mayor Gary Brennan congratulated the business owners for having the vision to add a new dimension to the CBD.
“These alfresco areas are vibrant and creative and will add to the dining experience in the City,” Mr Brennan said.
“The funky design of these structures will make it hard to tell they were actually once a sea container.”
The council agreed to fund part of the cost through loans repayable over five years to support local businesses in maximising this opportunity.
The installation of a shade structure was also approved last night for an area outside Caf-fez on Prinsep Street, which will be part-funded by the City also under the same terms as the converted sea containers.
These new alfresco areas follow on from previous applications for shade structures on the Victoria Street cappuccino strip, which have helped to create a vibrant streetscape with a range of dining options.
One of the alfresco designs has protection from the weather with the use of louvers, in hopes that all year round people will enjoy outdoor dining.
Converted sea containers are widely used as alfresco dining options in the Eastern States and have recently become popular in the Perth metropolitan area.
Mr Brennan said the modified containers would be set back sufficiently to address any road safety concerns.
“Council is pleased to be assisting this endeavour through loans,” Mr Brennan said.
“It is yet another demonstration of the council facilitating and the community doing.”