City Hall not backing down on decision to remove ‘unsafe’ Local parklet

A controversial cafe parklet in East Geelong is still slated for the scrap yard, despite a councillor throwing her support behind the cafe owner who is fighting hard for its survival.

Ben McLachlan has been in a year long dispute with council to try and keep the parklet at The Local cafe. Picture: Alison Wynd

A controversial cafe parklet in East Geelong is still slated for the scrap yard, despite a councillor throwing her support behind the cafe owner who is fighting hard for its survival.

The Local cafe operator Ben McLachlan arrived at City Hall on Tuesday night armed with a petition of more than 2500 signatures.

He told councillors the structure had become an “essential” part of the business since being erected during the COVID pandemic when traffic flow in the area was well below average.

Mr McLachlan expressed frustration with the ongoing discussions he’s had with City Hall.

He said he was “working diligently” to gather information, including risk assessments, and asked for officials not to put “further strain on our business, during already difficult times in the hospitality industry”.

Mr McLachlan sought an assurance that no “enforcement actions” would be taken, but if the structure was to be removed that he be provided with 48 hours notice.

Councillor Melissa Cadwell.

Cheetham ward councillor Melissa Cadwell claimed the 2577 people who had signed The Local’s petition was “quite a community outcry”.

She called on her fellow councillors and chief executive Ali Wastie to give Mr McLachlan and the cafe the assurances they were asking for, “if you wouldn’t mind”.

However, executive director of city infrastructure James Stirton did, it seems, mind.

He told the meeting he was “happy to provide a response” and noted the existing parklet’s permit expired on December 31.

Mr Stirton said Mr McLachlan had been given 21 days notice to remove the deck, which was “unsafe (and) unpermitted”.

“We’re waiting for Mr McLachlan to remove the parklet,” Mr Stirton said, noting discussions around a new permit were a separate process.

“As we’ve consistently said over a period of months, the information we’ve received is not adequate.”

EARLIER: COUNCIL ZIPS LIPS OVER FUTURE OF CAFE PARKLET

A cafe owner remains in the dark over the next phase of his ongoing stoush with Geelong council, with council refusing to comment on the future of the structure.

The Local cafe owner Ben McLachlan said despite the deck’s uncertain future, a recent meeting has left him feeling optimistic a solution may be found soon.

Mr McLachlan has been in an ongoing disagreement with council over the future of a deck at his East Geelong business, which was set up as a temporary instalment early in the Covid pandemic

It has since become an integral part of the business, however the temporary permit has expired.

City Hall last month sent contractors to dissemble the structure, only to be met with a snap public protest.

Mr McLachlan said a Wednesday meeting with council executives left him feeling as though there could be a road out of the scrap.

“We met with the council at short notice, to discuss our permit application,” he said.

“We are working with the city to fulfil their request for additional information and hopefully working towards a resolution.”

The City of Greater Geelong was contacted for comment, but remained quiet as to the future of the structure.

Council has been strong in its insistence that the parklet must go in the past, accusing Mr McLachlan of spreading “inaccurate information”.

“At least one vehicle has been known to have hit the (Local’s) parklet,” executive director of city infrastructure James Stirton said almost three weeks ago.

“We can’t sit by and wait until something terrible happens, we need to take action now.

“As the current site does not have a permit to operate and was constructed in a temporary way, it will need to be removed – either by the operator or the city.

“That’s the reality.”

Originally published as City Hall not backing down on decision to remove ‘unsafe’ Local parklet