No, not taking the BSKT
A high-profile cafe renowned for selling smoothies and paleo food has applied for a liquor licence and the ability to have “amplified entertainment”.
However, it has told concerned residents it is not going through a mid-life crisis and has no plans to turn into a head-banging pub.
BSKT Cafe at Nobby Beach has asked the Office of Liquor and Gaming Regulation (OLGR) to “allow for amplified entertainment on the premises”.
The business, owned by RC GC Investments, currently operates from 6am-3pm on week days and 6am-4pm on weekends. It has been trading since 2013.
Some residents are concerned about the cafe playing live music and turning into a bar, but the Lavarack Rd cafe’s management said the venue was applying for amplified music so it could play music inside. They said they would not be having live music.
Management also said they would not be changing the opening hours and that the liquor licence application was in case the cafe decided to open for dinner.
OLGR confirmed the application had been submitted, and a spokesperson said: “BSKT Cafe is currently licensed to sell liquor under the authority of a subsidiary on premises licence (meals) and has applied to vary the liquor licence to increase permitted noise levels at the premises. “The application to vary the noise conditions of the licence is being advertised for community comment.
“An acoustic engineer’s report is required for applications of this nature to demonstrate the requested noise levels will not create unreasonable noise
in the local area. If the application is approved, the licence will have noise limits imposed to minimise the potential for noise nuisance.”
The closing date for lodging public objections to the application was on Monday.
Member for Mermaid Beach Ray Stevens said numerous locals had approached him concerned about the venue’s request. He urged OLGR and the council to decline the application.
“It’s inappropriate for them to be applying for this in such a highly populated residential area,” he said.
“The council accepted their zoning request to run a quiet cafe and now they want to have loud music and turn into an entertainment bar. I strongly support the local neighbours and their concerns about the application.”
However, Nobby Beach Neighborhood Watch Community Group’s Luke Henderson supported the BSKT application.
“Since changing the location from a convenience store into a cafe I haven’t heard about any problems and it’s been a great community space with a good track record,” he said.
“I reckon we trust them to do the right thing and if there’s any issues we can stamp it out then, rather than stopping them now without any reason.”