September 27, 2012
The South Burnett Regional Council is planning to move its Economic Development Unit from the old Kingaroy Railway Station building in O’Neill Square into the controversial forecourt cafe space at the front of the Kingaroy Library.
The move will put an end to long-standing concerns that Council could lease the area to a commercial food vendor.
The original plans for the $2.552 million forecourt development had included a coffee shop located at the front of the library. However the proposal angered local businesses who felt the Council would effectively be competing with them by encouraging a duplication of commercial services.
There were also practical reasons why a coffee shop could not easily be located in the space.
Soon after the forecourt’s official opening in December last year, then-SBRC Mayor David Carter expressed his frustration that due to design oversights, the proposed coffee shop did not have any water or power connections.
Remedying these “oversights” would cost $41,000 and then fitting out the room for commercial use would cost an extra $30,000.
A motion to spend the extra $71,000 was passed at Council’s December 14 meeting but this occurred only after a counter-motion by Cr Damien Tessmann that Council liaise with the government departments which supplied most of the forecourt’s funding to have the requirement for a coffee shop removed from the plans.
That motion was narrowly lost.
In January, Cr Carter proposed the $30,000 fit-out costs could be recouped as part of a six-year lease agreement with a tenant, and said he was currently negotiating with “a local businessman” about renting the cafe space.
But it appears nothing came of the negotiations as since that time the room has remained empty, except for hosting mini-tractor cutouts in the lead-up to the recent Tractor Tattoo.
SBRC Mayor Wayne Kratzmann said today Council now intends to move the Economic Development Unit into the empty room.
It will also use the space to promote regional events, regional initiatives and other things which help create a positive impression of the area and encourage economic and tourism growth.
It is believed Council’s Human Resources department may relocate to the old Railway Building once the O’Neill Square premises are vacated.
* * *
UPDATE: September 28, 2012 (from Council release):
After considering various options Council has designated the space at the front of the Dr Ellen Hughes Forecourt. The area will be used to showcase the services and products of the South Burnett.
Mayor Kratzmann said “the Council has deliberated on the best use for this area and after consultation realised that the previous decision to locate a ‘cafe’ or ‘coffee shop’ was not in the best interests of the community”.
He said the concept plan for the space will be discussed with business leaders before being finalised but that it will provide businesses with a place to showcase their product and services to promote ‘buy local’!
The Federal Government which funded the Forecourt has agreed to this change of use. Council intends to form partnerships with local business houses to use this facility for the benefit of the South Burnett Region.
“Minister for Local Government David Crisafulli has encouraged Councils to form partnerships and this is a good example of a partnership that will promote business development,” said CEO Ken McLoughlin.
Cr Kratzmann said the concept plan for this area of the Forecourt would be launched in the near future and celebrated as a part of the overall strategy to provide local businesses in the region with business support. As well it is hoped to encourage residents to buy locally.
