Parramatta: Outdoor dining fees waived for Church St restaurants
A western Sydney council has abolished outdoor dining fees in an effort to support restaurateurs anticipating setbacks during the construction of Parramatta Light Rail.
Parramatta
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Business owners in Parramatta’s main dining strip are still anxious the Parramatta Light Rail will kill their restaurants despite being told their outdoor dining fees will be waived to alleviate strain caused by the project.
Parramatta Council will lift almost $124,000 worth of alfresco dining fees from Church St restaurants between Centenary Square and Market St from February 1 to May 31.
The move will coincide with the street becoming a pedestrian-only zone during that time.
Outdoor dining will continue until major light rail construction starts in June.
Construction will then stop for the peak summer trading period, with temporary tables and seating to be installed between November 2020 and February 2021.
The council said dining fees worth almost $124,000 would normally have been charged over the seven months — February 1 to May 31 2020 and November 1 2020 to January 31 2021 — during rail construction.
Parramatta Lord Mayor Bob Dwyer hopes scrapping fees will ease disruption to trade.
“By not having to pay outdoor dining fees during this period, these businesses will be spared thousands of dollars that they can put towards other important parts of their business,’’
he said.
Ray Wehbe, from Ray and Lou’s, said the restaurant had already suffered a 50 per cent drop in trade over 18 months since the Lennox Bridge carpark closed to make way for the EQ development more than two years ago.
Mr Wehbe also wants the council to reimburse the restaurant $50,000 to cover the cost of removing outdoor furniture and heating when light rail construction starts in June.
“Without the outdoor dining we don’t have Church St,’’ he said.
“People like to drive through, that’s what makes Church St what it is.’’
He said the business had two years left on its five-year lease.
Coco Cubano Parramatta’s Modasser Raza, who spends $790 a month on outdoor dining fees, said the light rail construction would still reduce sales by 50 per cent.
“I have spoken to a lot of (Parramatta Light) rail people and they have not promised any compensation so we’re not sure how we will pay the rent.
“It’s a very stressful decision.’’
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said compensation was not provided but it was consulting closely with business owners and the project’s business reference group to ensure they were supported before construction started.
“The NSW Government previously gave a guarantee that major construction would not commence on Eat Street until 2020, to give local businesses as much time as possible to prepare for light rail construction,’’ she said.
The spokeswoman reiterated that construction would cease along Church St each year from November 1 until January 31, during which hoardings will be removed and temporary outdoor tables and seating will be introduced.
“Transport for NSW will work with local businesses to deliver activities and events that will attract people to the Parramatta CBD,’’ she said.
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