Outdoor dining with restaurant expansion

A Warragul restaurant is set to expand into an adjoining heritage building after receiving Baw Baw Shire approval to extend its licensed area and number of patrons.

Three Brothers and an Oven will expand into the historic “Liberty Inn” shopfront in Queen St, enabling it to increase its patrons to 167.

The Liberty Inn building is affected by heritage overlays.

The revised permit approved by council last week also will allow up to 86 patrons for outdoor dining along the restaurant’s Queen and Mason St frontages.

The overall increase of patrons inside the new joined building areas will be 21 patrons.

“The footpath trading area is considered appropriate and will support a vibrant and liveable activity centre in Warragul by allowing the potential for more on-street trading and therefore creating a dynamic street life,” planning officers said.

The applicant sought to extend trading hours from 8am to 10pm daily to 6am to 11pm daily.

However, council officers said this was excessive and inappropriate.

“It is also considered that the negative social impact of encouraging the consumption of liquor at early hours outweighs any other benefit.

Planning officers said increasing the evening hours to 11pm was acceptable.

“The increase will assist in supporting the vibrant nightlife which this part of Queen St contributes to the area, where there are a number of established restaurants and hotels operating.

Serving alcohol on Good Friday and ANZAC day also was restricted to midday to 11pm.

Council also gave planning permission for non-illuminated business signage.

Cr Michael Leaney said this was a positive outcome for Warragul and alfresco dining in Warragul.

He said the liquor licence was not a general licence but a licence that required meals to be served in the restaurant.

Cr Keith Cook said he had a number of concerns about traffic, including B-double trucks, using Queen St adjacent to the outdoor dining area.

“With 86 patrons sitting out there, someone could be distracted and walk in front of a car. There is a safety concern in that,” he said.

Cr Cook he also was concerned about “car violence” and the opportunity for drivers to run down people on the footpath. He said council should consider installing bollards in this area.

Cr Cook also said there was a lack of parking associated with the restaurant. “This is the only licensed place in Warragul that doesn’t provide their own car parking.”

Cr Danny Goss said this was great news and it was great to see the business expanding into the old Liberty Inn building.

“I have a different view about 86 people in the path. I like the idea of a vibrant outdoor space,” he said.

Cr Goss called for a division. Cr Cook was the only councillor who opposed the application.