Cafe owners face $14,000 fee for extra two hours of trading

A BRISBANE couple wanted to extend their cafe’s trading hours to stay open for two hours at night but were gobsmacked by what Brisbane City Council wanted to charge them.

Tamara Little and James Pearce wanted to extend trading by two hours but face a $14,000 fee. Picture: Josh Woning

A BRISBANE couple wanted to extend their cafe’s trading hours to stay open for two hours at night but were halted by council’s $14,000 fee.

Valentina Cafe owners James Pearce and fiance Tamara Little had ditched plans to open from 8-10pm three nights a week after learning the cost could be so high.

The couple had planned to serve beer, wine and light meals, and hold events such as winemakers’ dinners.

But when Mr Pearce added up the cost of applying for a development application, which would involve employing a town planner, Brisbane City Council fees and a noise report, he found it was almost $14,000.

After questions from the North-West News, council staff took the matter to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

Cr Quirk said common sense should be applied and asked council officers to review whether the application fitted the criteria of a permissible change, rather than a separate development application.

Mr Pearce said that was “fantastic news … not just from our perspective but all small businesses’ perspective”.

“When it comes to a development application, it’s usually out of reach of what a small business can afford,” he said.

Mr Pearce wants the council to drop the DA requirement on trading hours extensions for good.

He said his checks with other southeast Queensland councils found they used a permit system that was faster and cheaper. “I’m not wanting it for free,” he said.

An online petition launched by the couple calling for a cheaper, faster process to extend trading hours has attracted 255 supporters since May 3.