Tavern could close as boaties hog parking
GRACE MASON an easement with the tavern to permit marina users access to its office, laundry and toilets and had claimed the tavern owners were required, via the registered easement, to provide access to 64 car spaces for marina use.
Bar and grill owner Peter Sayers said the carpark was constantly filled with marina users, forcing patrons to fill neighbouring streets, angering local residents and deterring people from the venue.
He said more than $200,000 in legal fees had been spent to defend their case and now faced the added insult of footing the bill for Brookfield Multiplex’s legal costs in the appeal.
“We’re playing with a company that’s a multinational and we are just a family business,” he said. “This is going to ruin us. “We’ve got a wedding (tonight), there’ll be 120 people here. Where are they going to park?”
Mr Sayers said boat owners living on their vessels were the biggest contributor to the issue, which is understood to be against marina regulations.
In early discussions Cairns Regional Council had offered to resolve the dispute by realigning the nearby carpark for boat trailers along Reed Rd at a cost to the tavern of at least $200,000.
A council spokeswoman said that solution was still an option.
“Council is happy to work with both parties to review and improve parking arrangement in the vicinity of the businesses,” she said.
“This could include reconfig- uration of a nearby carpark and installation of lighting, as had previously been identified as a possible solution.”
In 2015 council’s planning and environment general manager Kelly Reaston said when the council approved the development application it had included a condition to provide at least 69 car spaces and the current site was nominated.
“However, the carpark is not for the exclusive use of the tavern, which means it doesn’t meet the condition of approval,” she said at the time.