East Gosford: Fahrenheit Cafe gets drive through coffee bay after council cuts red tape

In a victory for common sense and working together, Fahrenheit Cafe is back serving drive through coffee after it was thrown a lifeline by Central Coast Council.

Fahrenheit Cafe owner Logan Dart and some of his staff celebrate a win with Central Coast Council for a drive through coffee bay. Picture: supplied

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It started with unreturned calls to Central Coast Council, then threats of heavy fines.

But Fahrenheit Cafe has nothing but appreciation for its former foe after council staff worked out a legal way for the small business to keep its drive through coffee service and remain viable during the COVID-19 crisis.

Owner Logan Dart filmed a short video last month after a visit from a council ranger who warned him he was facing $900 fines for placing temporary bollards and signs on Wells Rd outside his cafe offering a drive through service.

Fahrenheit Cafe owner Logan Dart talking to a council ranger who threatened him with $900 fines for his drive-through coffee bay at East Gosford. Picture: supplied

He said he had contacted council to seek a permit or some other approval but “no one returned my calls”.

But after his video went viral on social media he said council came to the party.

“After a rocky start with council and the video we posted a few weeks back, we wanted to thank all of you who supported us by viewing, tagging and sharing whether you agreed or disagreed with our stance, enough stir was caused and the right people got involved and put a fix into action,” he said.

The first customer through Fahrenheit Cafe's makeshift drive through bay at East Gosford before it was temporarily shut down. Picture: supplied

“What was previously all day parking directly in front of our cafe, from the Progress Hall carpark to the end of our building, has now been given 5 minute max parking between our trading hours of 8am-1pm so we can have continuous drive through trade seven days per week.

Mr Logan said “great things require even greater people” and thanked a number of council staff “for their help with a simple no excuses just results kinda move”.

In particular he thanked Roads Business Development and Technical Services unit manager Jeanette Williams, Technical Services and Traffic Teams section manager Scott Jarvis and maintenance team staff member Mark Maloy “who quickly had the signs ready and installed within hours of approval”.

Ms Williams said: “It was my pleasure to assist the businesses serving our community.”