Inviting feedback: City of Gold Coast "Outdoor Dining Guidelines"

The City of Gold Coast is committed to creating a vibrant and thriving community, and one of the ways in which it is achieving this is by developing outdoor dining guidelines. These guidelines are intended to provide a reference document for business operators who hold a city roadside dining permit or who are seeking to apply for one.

The City aims to encourage outdoor dining and ensure that it is carried out in a way that protects and enhances the character of the surrounding streets while considering the needs of all street users. The guidelines will provide examples of acceptable outdoor dining solutions and a clear and straightforward application and compliance process.

The guidelines will adopt several key principles. Firstly, permits will be issued with the intent of balancing the needs of all footpath users. Secondly, outdoor dining areas will be universally accessible, and the footpath must be reinstated as a public space when not being used for outdoor dining. Also, outdoor dining areas should be integrated with trees, landscape, and other significant streetscape elements.

The guidelines will address several aspects of outdoor dining, including dining location, furniture and equipment, operation and management, compliance, and applying for a roadside dining permit. For example, the guidelines will address issues such as accessibility, pedestrian clearways, intersections and traffic line of sight, obstruction-free zones, tables and chairs, menu signs and waiter stations, café barriers, heating and weather protection, permit holder responsibilities, maintenance and cleaning, waste, animals, liquor, sale and storage of goods, compliance with health legislation, anti-discrimination legislation, penalties, and outdoor dining area markers. It will also provide information on how to apply, what operators need to provide, fees, and outdoor dining area markers.

As part of its stakeholder consultation, the City welcomes comments and feedback from the Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce. The City has also consulted with divisional councillors, including Councillors Hermann Vorster, Pauline Young, Daphne McDonald, and Gail O'Neill, to obtain their feedback.

Overall, the City's development of outdoor dining guidelines is a positive step towards creating a more vibrant and thriving community. By ensuring that outdoor dining is carried out in a way that balances the needs of all footpath users and enhances the character of the surrounding streets, the City is helping to create a more welcoming and enjoyable environment for both residents and visitors alike.

If you would like to discuss this further, please do not hesitate to email us here: mailto:JLACEY@goldcoast.qld.gov.au