Lighthouse Restaurant upgrade to expand iconic waterfront dining spot
Cleveland’s beloved Lighthouse Restaurant could get a major facelift, with new decks and parking aimed at keeping its breezy bayside vibe for those who love dining while overlooking the bay.
QLD News
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One of southeast Queensland’s best-known waterfront dining venues could be set for a major upgrade, with a development application submitted for a major transformation of Cleveland’s landmark Lighthouse Restaurant.
Overlooking Moreton Bay and North Stradbroke Island, Cleveland’s the Lighthouse Restaurant has been a longstanding part of the Redland dining scene, drawing locals and visitors from across the greater Brisbane area.
The application, lodged with Redland City Council, proposes a series of upgrades to the Shore St North venue which are aimed at modernising and improving facilities.
If approved, the changes will increase dining capacity and enhance amenities, while maintaining the waterfront character for which the venue is known.
Central to the proposal is the addition of two new upper-level decks on the northern and eastern sides of the building, intended to take advantage of the bay views.
Plans also include a refurbishment of the existing lower deck, with a contemporary finish to improve the experience for diners.
A cantilevered awning is proposed for the upper level, extending over the street frontage to provide shade and contribute to the streetscape design.
The application also includes plans to formalise carparking adjacent to the site.
Vacant neighbouring lots, currently used informally for parking, would be turned into a 56-space carpark with a new 6.76m-wide driveway crossover onto Shore St.
Planning documents claimed the new driveway and entrance is designed to meet current safety and design standards, allowing access for rubbish trucks and cars.
Town Planning Alliance, acting on behalf of applicant James Varitimos, a West End lawyer, stated the proposal aligns with the Redland City Plan 2018 and the site’s designation within the Neighbourhood Centre and Medium Density Residential zones.
The planning report describes a “high-quality coastal-style design” aimed at enhancing the presentation, functionality, and operation of the restaurant.
It also notes that the proposed additional decks would support current levels of demand without significantly increasing operations in a way that would affect surrounding centres.
The current gross floor area of the restaurant is 1244 sqm, slightly above the 1200 sqm guideline under the Neighbourhood Centre Zone Code.
The proposed 71 sqm expansion would represent a 5 per cent increase, bringing the total to 1314 sqm.
Planners argue this increase is modest and note the restaurant’s role as a long-established commercial venue and a contributor to local tourism.
While the development is categorised as “impact assessable” due to the size of the food and drink component, the planning report suggests it could be supported, citing the restaurant’s history of use and limited impact on nearby residential areas.
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