Noosa family’s bakery dreams rejected by council

A family’s dream of opening a French bakery has been thwarted by the Noosa Council as they moved to reject the minor change application despite concerns of fairness and transparency.

185 Weyba Rd, Noosaville. Photo: Google Maps/iStock

A family’s dream of opening a French bakery has been thwarted by the Noosa Council as they moved to reject the minor change application despite concerns of fairness and transparency.

The store at 185 Weyba Rd, Noosaville, previously operated as seafood kiosk before it was bought by the company, Darcher Holdings Pty Ltd, in December 2022 for $2.8m, according to property data.

The company intended on opening a French patisserie, Et Voila Patisserie, at the site and submitted a minor change development application to the Noosa Council late last year.

A report into the development by town planners stated the change from a seafood kiosk to a bakery would not result in the “intensification” of the site.

“Our client is seeking to transform the site into an inspired French bakery and patisserie specialising in pastries, cakes, artisan breads, sweet breads, and savoury items. Noting the intensification of the site will not increase,” the town planning report stated.

However, the council’s planning and environment committee recommended the application be rejected due to concerns over the site’s parking availability, as well as the expected high number of customers contributing to traffic congestion.

185 Weyba Rd, Noosaville.

The matter was brought before the council’s ordinary meeting on Thursday morning.

Councillor Amelia Lorentson said there was a need for the council and the applicants behind the patisserie to find a middle ground, in order to allow for the applicants to establish their business.

“I cannot sit back and do nothing about what I believe to be an appropriate food business in an appropriate location be shut down,” Ms Lorentson said.

“There has been too much time and too much money invested in this application by a young local family.”

Amelia Lorentson supported the bakery.

Cr Lorentson said she could not see how the decision by the council to completely reject the application “aligns with a fair and transparent process”.

“What concerns me the most is the precedent I believe we are setting,” Cr Lorentson said.

Noosa Mayor Frank Wilkie along with councillors Brian Stockwell, Karen Finzel and Nicola Wilson voted in support of the committees recommendation for refusal.

Councillor Jessica Phillips and Cr Lorentson both voted against the decision to completely reject the application.