Pepper Tree Cafe at Aldinga approved to trade seven days a week

A popular live music cafe at Aldinga can now trade seven days a week after a two year battle over noise complaints.

• Pepper Tree Cafe has applied to trade 7 days a week
• Onkaparinga council dismisses noise complaints against Pepper Tree
• Pepper Tree Cafe in limbo over live music

An Aldinga cafe has been given approval to trade seven days a week.

Onkaparinga Council’s assessment panel has approved Pepper Tree Cafe’s application to extend its trading hours and offer outdoor dining.

Previously, the cafe could only open on Friday and Saturday nights, between 6pm and midnight, and at other times only with special approval.

The Old Coach Rd cafe can now open:

■ Monday to Thursday 11am-8pm for lunch, dinner and takeaway;

■ Friday and Saturday (plus Sunday on public holiday weekends) 11am-midnight.

Playing or streaming music outside is banned.

Music inside will not start until 8.30pm and only on weekends – as is currently the case – and only one function or performance may occur on any given Friday, Saturday or Sunday.

As per the cafe’s previous approval, a noise limiter that controls the in-house speakers, lowering music levels if it goes over the maximum limit, must be used.

Outdoor dining must cease at 9:30pm on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays on public holiday weekends, and at 8pm on other days.

Owner Tanya Crago said she was “happy” with the council’s decision.

“It means our financial hardship is over,” Mrs Crago said.

Tanya and Mark Crago, owners of The Peppertree Cafe. Picture: AAP Image/ Morgan Sette.

“It was a massive restriction on trade which doesn’t exist in this area at all so I’d like to see anyone try and survive, pay a mortgage and raise a family on 12 hours of work a week.

“It also means more hours for the kids that work here.”

She added that the cafe’s new hours would also be a boost to Aldinga’s local economy.

“It’s more money at the butchers, the bakers and everyone we deal with – it’s good for the economy.”

She said it would also cut down on the “buckets of paperwork” she had to complete to host lunches such as on Valentine’s Day.

“That’s easier on us and on the council because I’m sure they hated doing it too – it was hard for all of us – so there’s no hard feelings there.”

Four neighbours opposed the cafe’s application to extend its hours complaining about noise and the behaviour of some “drunken” patrons leaving the venue.

The cafe won approval for live music in July following a two-year battle against noise complaints.