Council rangers accused of being heavy handed as cafes struggle to survive
A cafe at East Gosford, which found an innovative way to serve `drive-through coffee’, has been threatened with heavy fines at the same time as liquor laws have been relaxed to help small business.
Central Coast
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Small business owner Logan Dart has been left scratching his head.
When new social distancing and public health orders came into effect the 40-year-old thought he’d come up with an innovative way to keep his small East Gosford cafe afloat.
He set up cones and used his Fahrenheit Cafe signs as bollards to create a `drive-through’ service outside the front of his Wells St business.
But a week and a half later he got a visit from a Central Coast ranger on Saturday, April 4, threatening him with $900 fines for each of the bollards and another $900 fine for a sandwich board sign which had a leg on the grass instead of the adjacent footpath.
A frustrated Mr Dart posted a short video about the ranger’s visit on Facebook which quickly raced to more than 55,000 views and landed him with TV and radio interviews.
He admits he did not have permission to set up the temporary `drive-through’ but said he tried contacting council to seek a permit but “nobody would call me back”.
However what has really left him speechless is the fact his other business, F220 Smokehouse at Erina, could start delivering alcohol and serving customers takeaway cocktails overnight as NSW Liquor and Gaming relaxed laws to help small bars and restaurants stay in business.
“It’s just a head scratcher,” he told the Express Advocate.
“It’s not about right or wrong, it’s about whatever we can do to keep our business alive.”
Mr Dart said the coronavirus pandemic was unprecedented and he would never have set up the drive-through lane had the social distancing laws not been brought in.
He said revenue had fallen 70 to 80 per cent and he would not have done it if his business was on a busy road.
“You can’t even turn right onto the Central Coast Highway and you can’t turn right onto Henry Parry Drive,” he said of that part of Wells St.
A council spokeswoman said it was doing a lot to support local businesses.
“A council ranger noticed that the owners of the Fahrenheit Café had set up barriers on the roadway out the front of the shop as a makeshift drive through for customers,” she said.
“The ranger advised that barriers could not be placed on the public road due to traffic and safety concerns and that penalties may apply. The ranger also advised the footpath may be used instead and suggested contact with council to obtain appropriate information. The ranger left without issuing any penalties.
“We understand the stress and significant impact that the COVID-19 situation is placing on the local community and businesses, and the growing financial and operational concerns as measures to reduce the spread of the virus are put in place.
“Council have actively dedicated resources and are providing support for local businesses to help keep them and our local economy going – now and into recovery.”