By Margaret Maccoll
After operating for 10 years without approval the Orange on Sunrise pizza restaurant at Tinbeerwah will have to wait until this evening’s Ordinary meeting for a decision from Noosa Council on its application for approval.
Applicant MA McFarland applied to council to formalise the existing use for a salon on week days and a restaurant for up to 10 diners and takeaway from 5.30-9pm Wednesday to Sunday.
Mayor Tony Wellington told Monday’s council meeting the business operated without complaint until 2016 when it changed hands and asked whether the deck where diners sat was an approved structure.
Council papers show council inspections over the past year have found it to have 70 available seats and officers had advised the applicant “on numerous occasions” to limit trading to 10 people dining at any one time.
A breach letter for non-conforming use was issued by council to the leasee of the restaurant after receiving a formal complaint in 2016 about noise from patrons, car movements and restaurant activities.
Councillor Ingrid Jackson asked about council’s ability to gain compliance and was told it’s process involved formal notices and the issuing of infringement fines of up to $12,000 for a company and $2,500 for an individual.
Councillors are awaiting the results of their inquiries into the structural approvals of the premises to decide on the application which involves the applicant meeting a number of conditions including the provision of a sealed car park, signage reduction and maintaining noise limits.
