Storey Park community hub in Asquith will be built without a cafe space to save $600,000

A cafe space will not be built at the new Storey Park community hub in Asquith despite community and expert support because of its $600,000 cost.

Hornsby Mayor Steve Russell at Storey park in Asquith with plans for the new community hub, construction of which is due to be begin later this year.

A cafe space will not be built at the new Storey Park community hub in Asquith despite community and expert support because of its $600,000 cost, lack of interest from operators and cheaper options such as a ‘pop-up’, coffee cart or food truck.

Hornsby councillors Mick Gallagher and Nathan Tilbury argued that the process to find a tenant for the cafe space was “set up to fail” and a cafe was needed to “complete the space” and “bring the community together”.

“This is a community hub to bring the community together, even after hours,” Cr Gallagher said. “We spend money on bringing the community together by having fairs and festivals and such, this is another way of bringing the community together ... and another piece of infrastructure with all units going up there (in Asquith).”

But Councillor Jerome Cox said the council’s “rather disastrous experiences with other cafes in other areas” showed why a space for a cafe was not a good idea.

“I don’t think there’s any community around the shire saying ‘thank heavens this cafe is here or our community wouldn’t exist’,” Cr Cox said.

A recent failure of a cafe operator at the Hornsby Aquatic Centre was given as an example to not “gamble with ratepayers money”.

A Storey Park community centre artists impression.

Hornsby Mayor Steve Russell said the council was not in the business of subsidising cafes, especially as he gets requests for “expenditure on all sorts of other facilities from sporting clubs and community groups”.

“We can’t have one (different) rule for a cafe in Asquith — that we’re told is going to be the centre of the universe ... where do we draw the line?” Cr Russell said. “I’m not going to gamble with ratepayers money on something I don’t think is viable.”

Councillor Antony Anisse said his experience at Parramatta Council showed a “semipermanent pop-up” food outlet or cafe worked well at no cost to council.

“Neither submission (to run the cafe) shows we could get the yield needed (to pay to build) for a cafe space,” Cr Anisse said.

Councillor Nathan Tilbury said it was a “really disappointing” result.

“I believe the way that the tender (for cafe operators) was structured was set up to fail,” Cr Tilbury said.

Councillor Robert Browne said coffee shops “close by” were struggling.

“It’s a nice idea, but council experience taking experts advice on who should take up leases in council facilities have been uninspiring, to say the least,” Cr Browne said. “All in all this just doesn’t stack up.”

A Storey park artist impression of the playground.

The new $4 million redevelopment will include:

■ Multi-purpose rooms for up to 240 people open for events from 7.30am to 10pm Monday to Saturday; and 8am to 10pm Sunday.

■ A small kitchen

■ Inclusive play equipment for all age groups including an adventure playground

■ Bike paths, seating, barbecues and picnic shelters

■ Parking for 30 cars with the security gate for the car park open until 10.30pm, seven days a week

Construction is expected to begin later this year.