Owners of Moonlight and Mexicano, Narrabeen, appeal to council for help after fire

The moment a ceiling collapsed after a fire caused a water pipe to burst, has been captured on video, as the owners of two businesses already struggling in lockdown call on the council to help.

A restaurant owner has spoken of the devastating moment she watched the ceiling collapse after a fire in a neighbouring property caused a water mains pipe to burst.

Caroline Starling, 39, who co-owns Moonlight in Narrabeen with her husband Matt, 50, said she was told by her insurers repairs could cost up $1m due to the extent of the structural damage.

The Mexicano restaurant next door, where the fire started in the early hours of Wednesday morning, is also closed until further notice.

It suffered both fire and water damage.

Ms Starling, 39, said she was still very teary and in shock since it happened.

She her husband raced to their Italian restaurant at around 5.45am on Wednesday, after they were alerted to the unfolding emergency.

They arrived to find water cascading through the light fittings in the restaurant and bar area.

They were able to save some of their restaurant equipment before the ceiling gave way.

Ms Starling is now pleading with the council to allow her to continue to run barbecues out the front of her restaurant, after officials previously warned that it was not allowed and they would start fining her.

“I’m very emotional right now,” the mum-of- three said.

“Before this it was difficult enough trying to make money during our third lockdown.

“We were finding running a barbecue was the only thing that was working for us and helping to put food on the table for our three kids and keep a roof over our heads.

“The community has been loving the barbecues.

“They create a bit of theatre and people are saying it makes them feel like summer is coming.”

However, Ms Starling was told by the council she had to apply for a free permit in order to continue.

When she did it was rejected.

“Apparently you have to cook the food inside the restaurant and then sell it outside,” she said.

“But this doesn’t make sense.

“When the WSL (surf competition) was on the council allowed us to run a pop-up restaurant on the grass, so what’s the difference?”

She added that barbecues were allowed at markets, as well as surf clubs and Bunnings.

However, she had been told she could be fined for doing the same thing.

Ms Starling said her children aged two, three and four, were keeping her going through the latest setback.

Kieron Prenter, 44, owner of Mexicano, said he and his family shed a lot of tears following the fire yesterday. He said they were not sure of the cause but it could have been electrical.

He said his kitchen had suffered fire and water damage and the restaurant itself stank of smoke.

“It’s a disaster scene,” he said.

He also appealed to the council for help, saying he had also been told he could not cook paella outside his restaurant.

He said he had worked hard to come up with new ideas during lockdown including buying a canning machine and making his own cocktails.

He said he had another venue in Mona Vale and he was desperately trying to keep hold of his 18 staff during these difficult times.

“We want support from the council,” Mr Prenter said.

“We need the council to step in and help a little by being a little bit flexible.”

He said his wife Liliane ran a boutique store called Kawani in Mona Vale, which had not been able to trade during lockdown.

“I’m the man bringing home the bacon,” he said.

Cr Rory Amon said he would fight to help the two families.

“The council should be doing as much as it can to help them at this time,” he said.

“It seems ridiculous they can’t have a barbecue.

“The council is there to serve the people, not the other way round.”

Following the Manly Daily’s questions to the council and Cr Amon’s intervention, Mr Prenter called back to say the council would be allowing them to operate food stalls outside their premises this weekend.

“We want to let people know we will both be trading this weekend,” he said.

“Thank you so much.

“This is a great lift for us after what has happened.”

Cr Rory Amon took the business owners’ concerns to the council after he was alerted to their plight by the Manly Daily. Adam Yip/ Manly Daily

Mayor Michael Regan, speaking on behalf of the council said: “Council is very concerned about struggling local businesses amid this third lockdown on the northern beaches.

“The plight of these two businesses is particularly concerning and we are working with them to come up with a solution that will enable them to trade temporarily until Covid-related restrictions are lifted.

“Initially, council was following environmental compliance protocols when assessing the initial application to operate food stalls outside the front of shops and restaurants.

“However, we understand these are exceptional times and are keen to work with local businesses to see what we can do to help them trade through this very difficult and challenging period.”