Fresh plans for bolder eatery

The businessman behind plans for a giant restaurant in central Southport wants to expand it before its doors have even opened.

Michael Geoffrey Read is behind Fire Baby, a restaurant, bar and entertainment venue that is aimed at revitalising the area’s night-life.

The project, which is under construction on Southport’s Welch St, is now the subject of fresh plans by Mr Read to expand it from 987sq m to 1247sq m and include a live music venue, meeting rooms, a tree planting within the building and outdoor footpath dining.

The expansion of the complex will be known as Foundry. It is the first project of its kind for Welch St.

“A key difference between the approved development and this new portion of the proposal is the incorporation of an indoor feature tree, a Lepiderema Pulchella, known as a ‘Fine Leaved Tuckeroo’,” a report lodged with the council reads.

“The proposal incorporates two-storeys comprising both indoor dining and outdoor patio and footpath dining, terrace dining, a bar, wine cellar and wine storage, private function room, office/ meeting room, and managers office.

“Large pizza ovens feature as a centre of the restaurant and bring a speciality offering to the Southport area.”

Mr Read has asked the council to allow outdoor dining at the site from 7am to 10pm while the venue itself will open from 6am to midnight.

Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the project and said it was what Southport needed.

“This gives me the heart to go ahead with doing a masterplan for Southport,” he said. The project, which will be assessed by council officers in coming months, is virtually certain to be approved, coming under the Priority Development Area legislation, which fast-tracks approvals and prevents appeal rights.