Alfresco rule for recovery
RESTAURANTS, pubs and cafes will now be able to host more patrons as Townsville City Council allows the businesses to expand their footprint to recover from the coronavirus pandemic.
The council has unanimously voted to approve the Alfresco Dining COVID-19 Response, which allows restaurants, pubs and cafes across the whole city to move out into the public spaces near their business.
With restrictive limits on the number of patrons who can be served within food service businesses, this will be a welcome change to the rules as the community tries to recover from huge economic losses.
Council officers acknowledged the struggles food service businesses had been through and said this move was designed to ensure Townsville’s cafes, restaurants and pubs made it through the pandemic. The idea has been widely supported by business owners.
Alfresco dining permits will not be available to roadside food stalls or food trucks.
Businesses will be able to apply for a permit in a free, simple and quick process to help minimise the demands on the council’s resources.
Businesses will need to work with Liquor Licensing to increase the area in which they can serve alcohol.
The permits only apply to public land and will not change the arrangements for the use of private land. The arrangement will apply until September 30 unless it is extended.
Independent councillor Sue Blom asked Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill if this could become a permanent fixture if it had a positive response.
“I think anything is possible after COVID-19 because we still don’t know what the new