Glenelg’s Moseley Beach Club will return next summer

THE Moseley Beach Club will return to Glenelg Beach for four months this summer after the council approved it last night, saying the benefits of bringing back the European-style venue outweighed the risks.

Port Adelaide AFL footballers Travis Boak and Jack Watts at the Moseley Beach Club. Picture: Bianca De Marchi

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THE Moseley Beach Club will return to Glenelg Beach for four months this summer after Holdfast Bay councillors approved it at a meeting last night.

The RD Jones Group venue will occupy 750sq m of beach next to the jetty – the same size as last year – from November 16 until March 17.

It will feature sun lounges, a casual dining area, bar and live music.

During last night’s meeting councillors, such as Karen Donaldson, agreed the club’s benefits outweighed the risks.

“The Moseley Beach Club was run very well during 2017-18 and there's no reason to believe it will be run differently in 2018-19,” Cr Donaldson said.

Elected members had raised concerns about the venue’s proximity to busy Glenelg Jetty, and the lack of a council policy outlining rules to ensure fair business use of the beach.

About 30 people turned out to watch the debate unfold, including Glenelg resident Liam Hanna, who gathered 240 signatures on a petition against the club’s return.

He made a presentation at the meeting reiterating his concerns the beach bar would take away open play space for families and privatise the foreshore.

“(Business’s) place is not occupying and displacing community lands,” Mr Hanna said.

Moseley Beach Club was trialled on Glenelg Beach for 11 weeks last year.

A council survey showed 56 per cent of respondents thought the beach bar should return next summer.

Another 23 per cent were opposed to the venture coming back, and 21 per cent were unsure.

The beach club had a mixed reception from the moment the plan was first proposed in January this year.

The food and drink offerings at The Moseley Beach Club.

One business owner, Mint on Moseley and Mint 2 owner Katrina Wilkinson said at the time she was “next level angry” a seven-day kitchen and bar serving up to 350 people would open up on the Glenelg beach foreshore.

“I’m a big believer in working in a team … why can’t we all be involved instead of just one company? There will be more vacant shops down in Glenelg now.”

But Cibo Glenelg business owner Tony Beatrice said he believed the club would bring more visitors to the area and St Louis House of Fine Ice Cream and Dessert managing director George Karamalis called the plan “innovative”.

An in-depth article in The Messenger earlier this month looked at the pros and cons of the beach bar, with four prominent members of the community giving their viewpoint on the issue.