Submissions invited on draft outdoor dining guidelines

THE Surf Coast Shire council is inviting submissions on its draft outdoor parklet dining guidelines and a proposed Local Law amendment, following the success of a parklet pilot at Jan Juc’s The Beach Hotel.

The draft guidelines and amendment were endorsed at the May council meeting, paving the way for the formalisation of the outdoor dining initiative across the shire.

Mayor Liz Pattison said the trial was a success.

“Thank you to the locals and visitors who had their say on The Beach Hotel parklet, which ran from mid-January to early April,” she said.

“The pub transformed three kerbside car parks into a ‘parklet’ – an outdoor dining area. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with 97 per cent of respondents in favour of the parklet.”

Survey respondents praised the parklet as a great spot to meet friends in the Jan Juc Village, and many expressed enthusiasm for parklets to be implemented shire-wide.

“Personally, I noticed the parklet created a real buzz and sense of community,” mayor Pattison said.

Parklets use on-street parking zones adjacent to hospitality businesses, transforming kerbside parking into community spaces with public seating and opportunities for street dining or green spaces.

Incorporating outdoor dining parklet guidelines into the Local Law will enable the council to support parklets across the shire.

“Extended outdoor dining has the potential to increase the time spent in the area, subsequent spend, financial viability of the business, and may encourage more slow tourism where visitors linger,” mayor Pattison said.

The pilot survey did receive three submissions expressing concerns about the loss of three car parking spaces. In response, the council installed two additional parking bays in Jan Juc Village.

The draft outdoor dining guidelines aim to ensure parklet designs are sensitive to amenity and environmental concerns, foster an accessible and inclusive community, and support local businesses.

Submissions on the draft guidelines and proposed Local Law amendment are open until 5pm on June 26. To view the draft guidelines and amendment and to make a submission, visit Your Say Surf Coast.

If the guidelines are adopted and incorporated into the Local Law, hospitality businesses will be invited to express their interest in applying for a parklet.