Silvan’s The Barn Owl cafe safe from closure

A popular Silvan cafe facing shutdown in September because it had been operating illegally has been given a reprieve by Yarra Ranges Council.

Katie Wolff is relieved she has more time to get her cafe to comply with planning rules. Picture: Stuart Milligan

The owner of a popular Silvan cafe cried tears of relief when she was told her business would be able to keep operating for the foreseeable future.

The Barn Owl’s Katie Wolff was left shattered after Yarra Ranges Council ruled the cafe had been operating illegally from a shed in a green wedge zone, with the business set to be shut down in September.

But after a meeting with council officers today, Ms Wolff said the cafe would be able to continue operating, with the council to help her work through planning and building matters.

Ms Wolff said the officers had given her an extended time frame to work through the issues, and she expected to be able to keep operating the cafe for the next couple of years while she worked on getting the necessary approvals.

She said because the cafe was in a green wedge zone, she either needed to prove the cafe had been operating on the site for a long time — or work more closely with the farm and farmer, so it could continue operating in the zone.

She said she was very emotional when she realised she would be able to keep the cafe open.

“I was in shock; I was crying, so much has happened,” she said.

She said the support from the community, including more than 8500 people who have signed a petition calling for the cafe to be saved, left her speechless.

She thanked the council representatives and Mayor Tony Stevenson for his support.

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Yarra Ranges Council social and economic development director James Collins said there were a number of complexities with the zoning and use of the land and the council staff had good discussions in the meeting with cafe representatives about potential options for the site.

“The council has no intention to close down the cafe or take further compliance action while these issues are being resolved,” Mr Collins said.

“We are committed to giving the cafe operators time to work through these issues and look forward to continued discussions and finding the best way forward.”