All weather dining hubs served up

RESIDENTS and tourists alike have begun utilising the two new temporary outdoor dining pods within Ballarat’s CBD.

Made from six all weather glass cubes, the pods were installed as an extension of select hospitality venues on both Armstrong Street North and the 400 block of Sturt Street.

After a tough year for hospitality operators and staff City of Ballarat mayor Cr Daniel Moloney said he hopes patrons can use their wallets to show their support not only for this initiative but also for the venues.

“We now have a unique dining opportunity that hasn’t happened in Ballarat quite like this before… it is an exciting trial to see whether this is something that could perhaps continue into the longer term,” he said.

“This particularly gives people the chance to stay out of the weather a bit too, whether it be the harsh sun or the equally harsh wind and rain.

“This may change Ballarat’s perceptions in terms of how we dine… if people want this to be a regular part of Ballarat, then support it.”

The hubs as well as additional dining infrastructure was funded through $500,000 from the Victorian Government’s Local Councils Outdoor Eating and Entertainment Package, set aside for Ballarat venues to kick start the city’s COVID recovery.

Member for Wendouree Juliana Addison said the money is not only a winner for restaurants and cafes, but also for workers and residents.

“I’m so proud that the Ballarat hospitality industry was so innovative moving towards takeaway, coming up with creative ways to keep on keeping on,” she said.

“It is not just these two cubes; the money will also be spent on smaller venues as well.

“We’re sharing the joy of this $500,000 because we know that not every business is in Sturt Street or Armstrong Street.”

Although the grant has since been exhausted, Cr Moloney said the money was spent in hospitality businesses that called out for help specifically for outdoor dining infrastructure.

“That grant saw us go out to businesses in two areas, we had some expressions of interest for small bits of furniture and we also had expressions of interest for larger hubs such as this,” he said.

With each pod providing 36 additional dining spaces, the economic impact of the overall initiative is projected to be around $1.3 million over the three-month period they will be in operation.

With the temporary spaces only open for cafes and restaurants until April, owner of Higher Society Rhys Jeffery said he’s keen to see if something more long term could work for the space.

“We did have a few customers query the car parking, but I’ve told everyone, where can you go in Melbourne and get a car park out the front?” he said.

“We have parking all down Dawson Street and in front of the church and there’s a multi-level car park a minimal walk away, so it’s a good chance to get out and stretch your legs.

“It’s really exciting to have this here… we are planning to open Friday and Saturday nights to bring a bit of culture back into the street but that will be in a couple of weeks.”