Kirra Pavilion: councillors decide it fate after debate in closed session

Gold Coast City Council will pump more than $1m into the site of the former Kirra Pizza Hut as a new operator prepares to take over the venue.

THE future of the historic Kirra beachside Pizza Hut site is closer to being decided.

The Kirra Pavilion will undergo a million dollar facelift with a successful company which put in a tender for the lease about to get the tick to take over the southern Gold Coast historic building.

The Kirra Pavilion.

Councillors late today at a meeting of the lifestyle and community committee discussed the future of the site in a closed session.

Details of the proposed lease agreement have not been made available due to commercial in confidence, and councillors cannot discuss matters debated in closed session.

But they agreed that the PTC Consulting Group was the successful tenderer for the available space pending negotiations on the term of the lease and approval from the State Government.

Councillors at committee also recommended that $1,059,000 be approved for roof replacements and electrical repairs along with other works.

The funding will be from the Gold Coast City Council’s 2019-20 Budget.

Councillors agreed that “discussions be held with the Kirra Surf Lifesaving Club with a view to optimising its current lease in consultation with other relevant stakeholders”.

All the recommendations will go to full council for approval by all councillors on August 28.

Council had sought a higher rental return on the site with the aim of it being the new home for a luxury restaurant.

Kirra Pavilion back in the day.

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Council documents reveal that city officers, after discussions with consultants at Knight Frank, agreed that a lease of 20 years – 10 years with a further 10 as an option – would be the best way to proceed.

Pizza lovers early last month lined up around the block to get their last slice and a chance to reminisce on times at the Kirra Beach diner.

Last day of operations at Pizza Hut in Kirra. Ten-year-old Deshan Schokman enjoys a feed. Picture: Mike Batterham.

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“The facade will stay much the same. Council is hoping to get up to $400,000 in rent,” a surf lifesaving source said.

The Kirra Pavilion was built in 1922, replacing an old structure which cost just 30 pounds and lacked proper roofing.

The building was left devastated by floods in 1974 which saw much of its beach side completely destroyed.

The Pizza Hut moved into the complex in 1986.