Issues: Should the Moseley Beach Club be allowed to set up in Glenelg again this summer?
AS Holdfast Bay Council decides whether to allow the Moseley Beach Club to return to Glenelg this year, we take a look at the community debate on the issue.
THE Moseley has launched a bid to return its contentious beach bar to Glenelg for four months this summer.
RD Jones Group, which owns The Moseley Bar & Kitchen, wants to bring the European-style beach bar back between November 16 and March 17.
If approved, the exclusive bar’s next appearance at the Bay would be 47 days longer than its stay last summer.
Holdfast Bay Council will decide whether to again grant the business access to the 750sq m section of beach near the Glenelg jetty.
A report showed The Moseley last season served an average of 360 people each day, peaking at 600 on Saturdays, with more than 30,000 people going to the bar over 11 weeks.
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.
We asked four members of the community their viewpoint on the issue:
Amanda Wilson
Holdfast Bay Council Acting Mayor
Amanda Wilson from Holdfast Bay Council
I have had many residents tell me that they value our open spaces and treasure our beach.
The Moseley Beach Club attracted much needed tourists to Glenelg and created a fun and new atmosphere.
The overwhelming feedback I get is that it adds to our culture and enhances our image as an innovative and cultural community.
It was a boost to our local economy, employing 40 people, 20 musicians and dispersing tourists into the Jetty Road Precinct.
The Jetty Road Mainstreet Board has unanimously voted to strongly support the application for a Beach Club.
Council is mindful that a short term licence will not become a permanent lease and that no permanent structure will be built.
I personally believe that if the council grants the licence that it be clear that there are no continuing or transferable legal rights, no expectation of a perpetual licence and that other local businesses be given the opportunity to tender for the one licence in due course.
SHOULD PUBS SPREAD TO THE SAND? Tell us what you think in the comments below:
Georgina Cole
Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club president
Georgie Cole from the Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club
Given that almost 20 per cent of all coastal fatalities involve alcohol, Glenelg Surf Life Saving Club will always be concerned and vigilant around alcohol consumption at the beach.
When we first heard about the Moseley Beach Bar we were quite concerned as we expected the levels of intoxication and the number of people on the beach to be higher.
We worked with Surf Life Saving SA and the Holdfast Bay Council to mitigate risk and we monitored the situation throughout the season.
As it happened last summer the patrons of the Moseley Beach Bar presented no extra safety issues that wouldn’t normally have been there in a busy precinct like Glenelg.
We were impressed with the conduct of the public and security and staff who were working in the beach bar, everyone had a nice safe time.
As surf lifesavers we love the beach and encourage local councils and businesses to look for new ways to make the precincts more vibrant.
We would also stress the importance of responsible service and consumption of alcohol and remind the public that entering the water intoxicated is an extremely dangerous behaviour.
We would suggest people heading into the various business for food and alcohol in the Glenelg precinct do so once they are finished swimming for the day.
The club’s volunteers will remain vigilant look forward to an incident and fatality free summer.
Tom Sellar
Moseley Beach Club Manager
The Moseley Bar and Kitchen has been passionate in pursuing the Beach Club trial for five years.
We invested significant capital to create Australia’s first beach club on our local beach to support our community.
Community engagement was a key objective and driver of its success to increasing visitation to Glenelg.
More than 30,000 people visited the beach club during the trial, of which 60 per cent were international tourists.
Local businesses were engaged to participate, including Cibo Espresso, which sold coffee on weekends from the beach club.
More than 50 per cent of all fresh produce was sourced locally when demand could be kept. We also raised more than $12,000 for childhood cancer.
We were proud to become an information centre for Glenelg, as a referral point for other traders, and advocate for the precinct.
The Moseley Beach Club generated 40 positions of employment, with numerous relocated to RD Jones hotels including The Gully Public House and Garden in Tea Tree Gully and The Woodcroft Hotel in Woodcroft.
We were never an exclusive space and never charged an entrance fee. It was free to enter.
It was never obligatory for patrons to purchase alcoholic beverages. Our fresh coconuts were one of the most popular beverages and non-alcoholic.
Security and safety was paramount, as management worked closely with the council, licensing and SAPOL.
SAPOL wasn’t called to assist at any stage, there were no physical evictions and zero noise complaints.
Licensing visited and were satisfied of our service methods, in accordance with our agreement. We were committed to a seamless trial and progress with the same pledge.
Jack Messenger
Holdfast Bay Residents Alliance
The vexed question over Holdfast Bay Council granting a lease for part of the beach for the Beach Bar has been created by the council.
The lease is on public beach that forms part of the open space of this municipality.
Within the community we are aware that there are those strongly opposed, those prepared to give the applicant a commercial opportunity, and those who have no serious problem with the proposal.
The opinions of the members of our alliance are similarly divided over whether there should or could be a lease.
It is also reasonable to point out that the opinions of the elected councillors are similarly divided as the decision to grant the lease was not a unanimous vote.
There is a wide variation of opinions ranging from strong support to strong opposition. Much of this concern comes from speculation on the future customer behaviour. The experience from last summer’s operations is that anti-social behaviour is not an issue.
The recurrent concern voiced is over the encroachment and alienation of public open space. There is no compromise on this aspect: either the bar is or is not there.
There are numerous activities conducted on Colley and Wigley reserves as well as in the sea and on the foreshore. All involve the use of public land, and will continue to do so without conflict.
The elected members who voted for the lease last year are the ones who have created the problem, if indeed there is a problem.
SHOULD PUBS SPREAD TO THE SAND? Tell us what you think in the comments below: