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AUGUST 09, 2024
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Red tape stress
Bar owner’s 100m move requires development application l CAIRNS CBD | Nick Dalton A MOVE by about 100 metres has become a red tape nightmare for Conservatory Bar owner Ross Stevens. He said his application for a new liquor licence at 21 Lake St had been met with a flat ‘no’ by Cairns Regional Council who has deemed his new premises not zoned for hospitality. Instead, he must submit a development application (DA). For a month Mr Stevens said his emails and phone calls had not been returned as he tried to negotiate the move to a bigger venue. “I would have liked a bit more fluid communication. We’ve been dumped for a few weeks,” he said. Mr Stevens has escalated his plea for commonsense to council planning director Ed Johnson. “We are moving into what was Coast Roast and then Coffee 21. It’s already been a hospitality venue,” he said. “It’s much bigger, twice the size of the current place and, although we lose the outdoor area, most people want to be indoors, especially in the summer.”
Mr Stevens said he was frustrated and losing money, having to pay for both premises and the fees for paperwork were not cheap either. “I can’t believe the stuffing around,” he said. “We’re literally moving across the road. I didn’t think it would have been an issue.” Mr Stevens said the council spruiked that they supported small business and wanted the CBD alive, yet were not helping him. He said in four and a half years he had no problems with the council, or the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation. “I don’t like to push the boundaries,” Mr Stevens said. He said with his business partner they had paid $395,000 for the new venue’s freehold and the fit-out had been $50,000. “It’s a lot of money. We’ve been paying a mortgage for four weeks and can’t trade,” he said. “The Conservatory Bar is 10 years this year and the trajectory is good.” Mr Stevens said the DA was costing $4000 and could take up to three months.
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The Conservatory Bar owner Ross Stevens can’t believe that he has to make a costly development application to acquire a new liquor licence when he is moving just 100m down the road. Picture: Nick Dalton
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Suburb’s new centre l TRINITY BEACH HUNDREDS of community events now have a bigger and better space on the northern beaches. The $1.83 million Trinity Beach Community Activity Space at Coastwatchers Park was officially opened yesterday. The new space features contemporary all-abilities access, meeting spaces and large indoor areas for activities such as dance and fitness. Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the new building would be a fantastic place for people to connect, socialise and play. “The stunning new space will be a hub for the local community,” she said. “We know our northern beaches residents love to get together for a good time and I am really thrilled to provide a fresh venue for that to happen. “The previous centre was more than 40-years-old and needed a do-over.” Member for Barron River Craig Crawford said the new centre would help strengthen social ties as the community grew. “Smithfield and Northern Beaches locals love to get together,” he said. “The old centre was incredibly popular, hosting more than 470 events in 2022,” he said. The area’s population was expected to grow a lot. CONTINUED PAGE 2
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