By JONATHON HOWARD
QUAMBY Place businesses breathed a sigh of relief this week after a liquor licensing debacle threatened outdoor dining.
The issue first arose when a now closed restaurant had hosted a rouge concert in the Quamby Place parkland.
The concert prompted a resident to complain to council which, in turn, sparked a Parks Management Plan Review.
The review found several Quamby Place restaurants were operating on a state/council boundary and several outdoor dining areas crossed into state land.
The liquor licenses were therefore under the state law and were considered “unlawful”.
A number of Quamby Place restaurants have been operating for almost 18 years without complaint. However, the one complaint that was lodged was not in relation to the dining, but the concert that took place.
Noosa councillor Frank Wilkie moved the motion to ratify the boundary and reinstate the liquor license during Noosa Council’s ordinary meeting on 26 June
“For Rickys River Bar and Restaurant staff to not be in breach with the proposed restricted hours, they would be required to ask patrons to move two to three metres back, not behind an acoustic barrier which would have lessened sound, but an arbitrary line on the floor that technically represents “business” as opposed to “park” land,” he said.
Mr Wilkie said the business owners had applied for and were granted what they thought were the lawful permits from the council.
“The fact these permits were not (lawful) cannot be the fault of the businesses, so punitive action cannot be justified,” he said.
Fearful of losing their outdoor dining liquor licensing, several Quamby Place businesses offered to close at 10pm on Sunday to Thursday nights.
But instead, Noosa Council went one better and reinstated the original midnight trading seven days a week.
Rickys River Bar and Restaurant general manager Rhys Kelly said he was thankful the debacle was resolved.
“We’re very grateful to Noosa councillors and in particular Cr Frank Wilkie for passing this motion and allowing our businesses to continue unhindered,” he said.
The motion was passed unanimously.
