Council approves cafe, bar despite residents' concerns

A new café and bar has been approved at Pelican Waters despite the efforts of a group of residents to have it refused.

VIEW: Looking into the bar area across the deck. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

A NEW café and bar has been approved at Pelican Waters despite the efforts of a group of residents to have it refused.

Concerns were raised by Cr Peter Cox and Cr Rick Baberowski at Thursday's Sunshine Coast Council meeting about a lack of parking for what they believed would be a popular attraction.

Both were concerned the development would result in patrons parking in nearby residential streets.

Residents opposed to the development had scrambled to get numbers by way of signatures behind their push to have it refused after learning about its scope late in the application period.

Residents at Caloundra South protest about a proposed restaurant, bar and coffee shop precinct that could affect their quality of life. Picture: John McCutcheon

Concerns particularly focused on evening trading and the noise it would bring.

Cr Christian Dickson urged councillors to approve the application, saying conditions had been put on it to reduce parking demand.

He said he had spoken with the developers and was satisfied with their intentions.

"They are good people,” Cr Dickson said.

"They don't want to ruin their community.”

VIEW: The entry and cafe area. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

He also said the council had no defensible position if the development was refused and then appealed in court.

"If council were to refuse this application today we will 100 per cent see this thing in court.”

He and Councillors John Connolly, Jenny McKay, Ted Hungerford, Jason O'Pray, Steve Robinson and Greg Rogerson voted in favour of the application.

Cr Baberowski and Cr Cox voted against it.

Mayor Mark Jamieson and Cr Tim Dwyer were not in the meeting.