The Adelaide kiosk with a view worth fighting for: operators get lease they’ve wanted for years
IT’S taken more than two and a half years but the owners of a popular beachside kiosk have finally been given the approval they’ve so desperately sought to keep operating their business. Here’s the full story.
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THE owners of the Harbour Kiosk at the O’Sullivan Beach Boat Ramp have won a two-and-a-half-year battle with Onkaparinga Council to save their business.
Rob and Linda MacKay received an email from the council on October 2, stating that they had been chosen as the preferred operators of the kiosk, following a four-month tender period.
“I was relieved, it’s certainly a win,” Mr MacKay said.
The victory comes after the council threatened to force the couple out of the kiosk earlier this year, when their permit expired.
The community rallied around the MacKays, with more than 1000 people signing a petition urging the council to continue letting them operate the kiosk.
More than 50 people congratulated the couple on social media last week, following news they had been chosen as the preferred operator.
The MacKays bought the business in 2009 and have been running the kiosk and collecting boat ramp fees on behalf of the council since.
Their original five-year permit ran out in 2014 and deadlocked negotiations meant they had been operating the kiosk on a rolling deal for the past two years.
Mr MacKay tried to convince the council to reduce the costs involved with a new permit, which would have “about doubled” his rent.
But the council said it was “not in a position” to do so because the previous permit was not in line with the Transport Department’s rules governing ramp control and operation.
The MacKays have been running the kiosk on a four-month contract while the council sought tender applications for the business.
Mr MacKay said he hoped to sign the new five-year permit within days.
“I’ve restocked a lot — a bit of basic bait ... and pies and pasties,” Mr MacKay said.
“I had a big winter ‘spring’ clean out. It’s given me time to pause and think what I really need to have in there.”
He said he would consider selling his business before the five-year permit ended to ensure he would not lose the $150,000 he paid for it.
“The elephant in the room is in five years time, will I have to go through all this again?” Mr MacKay said.
“There’s got to be more protection for the local business guy.
“The council shouldn’t have the power to just throw someone out of their business for no good reason whatsoever.”
The Southern Times Messenger contacted the council for comment but was told no information would be provided before the matter was finalised.