Call to waive alfresco dining fees Darwin-wide
DARWIN Council needs to waive alfresco dining fees for all businesses in the CBD — not just those in Smith St Mall, says NT restaurateur and bar owner Jason Hanna
Northern Territory
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DARWIN Council needs to waive alfresco dining fees for all businesses in the CBD — not just those in Smith St Mall, says NT restaurateur and bar owner Jason Hanna.
“It’s just common sense,” he said.
“Palmerston has taken the lead with this — making parking free and setting up free outdoor dining.”
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Mr Hanna said giving CBD restaurants the opportunity to “trial” alfresco dining at no cost would help businesses attract more diners and give residents more options.
Mr Hanna wasn’t convinced offering only Smith St Mall eateries the opportunity would spark much change.
Yesterday, the NT News revealed Darwin Lord Mayor Kon Vatskalis wanted to waive alfresco dining fees in the mall for a year to increase business opportunities.
Mr Vatskalis said he would open discussions with current operators and determine an appropriate amount of time to waive their fees as well to ensure they weren’t being compromised.
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About two years ago, Dolce Espresso Bar owner Nelson Lay was paying $3000 a month to offer alfresco dining in the mall. In the current economic climate, Mr Lay said he wouldn’t bother setting up more outdoor tables — even if it was free.
“The last two years, business has been really bad,” he said. “
And it’s a pain, when there’s a truck coming, you have to go out and bring in all the tables, And in the raining season, it’s more work.”
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Mr Lay already offers outdoor dining to his customers at the Knuckey St end to his business — and said having twice the tables would stretch staff too thin. Mr Lay said council should never have charged alfresco dining fees, and hoped removing them would help others.
“Why would you want to charge small businesses? You’ve got to do all you can to support them,” he said.
In theory, Darwin resident Emma Kotzuv said she supported the idea of make it free to offer outdoor dining.
“You don’t want it to disadvantage places that already pay rent for their space and are doing it tough,” she said.
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