Council dishes up tasty outdoor dining in Frankston City
Published on 21 October 2021
Outdoor dining in Frankston City just got a whole lot tastier.
Construction has begun on new parklet installations on both sides of Nepean Highway, Frankston, adding to the smorgasbord of outdoor dining options in the City.
The new extended dining parklets will cater for up to a total of 188 patrons outside 13 hospitality venues on both sides of Nepean Highway including Seagulls, Cosy and Tasty, Ha Long 2, Non Solo Vino, Olive and Fern and Iron River Bar and Grill once they open from 26 October, 2021.
The parklets, which use existing car parking spaces along with seated dining areas on the pavement, will be complete with stylish timber planter boxes and colourful shade sails.
Part of Frankston City Council and Invest Frankston’s Outdoor Dining Program 2.0, the parklets will add to existing ones on Wells Street, Beach Street and at Station Street in Seaford.
North East Ward Cr Suzette Tayler said Council is supplying all outdoor furniture for parklets along with furniture and umbrellas for kerbside dining areas.
“This is Do It Outdoors Extended Outdoor Dining 2.0 – a bright installation that will create a significant visual transformation along Nepean Highway and support the businesses as we head out of lockdown and restrictions begin to ease,” Cr Tayler said.
Cr Tayler said the Outdoor Dining and Activation Program is a critical initiative designed to support local hospitality businesses recover from economic impacts suffered as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Hospitality is vital to our local economy with 655 businesses employing about 2862 people contributing an annual turnover of more than $345 million,” Cr Tayler said.
Seagulls owner Leon Bozuslavsky said he was excited about the new space and had already received bookings from people wishing to dine in the parklets.
Mr Bozuslavsky said: “Wow – they look unreal. They have been constructed very well, the timber is very nice, they are very good quality and already it looks fantastic and it’s not even finished yet.
“I put a post out about it and people have called wanting to book in, it’s unbelievable. We already love Frankston and this is just going to make it even better,” Mr Bozuslavsky said.
Iron River Bar and Grill owner Dwayne Heagney also loves the new parklets.
Mr Heagney said: “Seeing these parklets being installed gives us all hope of a good reopening. We are so grateful to Council for doing this. It’s going to be amazing when it’s in full swing and we can’t wait to extend our services to those dining outside.”
Other businesses will also be expanding their dining to the kerbside such as Commonfolk, Cinars, Casa Della, Nepean Souvlaki, Spice Club, Los Argentinos, A1 Kebabs, Pisces Dumplings and Ginseng.
There will also be a new kerbside dining area outside Gapfed on Playne Street, Frankston, which will include umbrellas, tables and chairs and olive trees.
Plans for outdoor dining in Carrum Downs is also underway, along with other outdoor encouragement activations such as the Yoga in the Park Summer Series, which will be launching in November.
Live music from local artists will complement the outdoor dining on Friday and Saturday nights from the end of October throughout the summer period.
The outdoor dining along Nepean Highway has been funded thanks to a $200,000 grant as part of the State Government’s Round 2 Outdoor Dining program and a $135,000 grant from the Frankston Revitalisation Board, which is chaired by the State Member for Frankston, Paul Edbrooke MP and $25,000 contributed by Council.
Mr Edbrooke said: “I’m loving the results of the State and Council outdoor dining partnership, which helps support wonderful local businesses with the infrastructure and support they need to welcome our community back to enjoying Frankston’s CBD.”
Frankston City Councillors recently voted unanimously at a Council Meeting to approve the extension of all current extended outdoor dining permits to 30 June 2022 to enable a review and update of the Kerbside Trading Guidelines to be completed with consideration given to the incorporation of updated standards and conditions applicable to the permanent operation and management of extended outdoor dining and activations.
Councillors also noted the success of the Outdoor Dining program as evidenced by the compelling positive feedback received and valuable difference the program has made to the recovery of participating businesses and surrounding commercial precincts.
North West Ward Cr Steven Hughes said consultation was undertaken between July and August, adding: “The feedback has been fantastic. We know the extended outdoor dining program is awesome, but don't just take our word for it. Check out the amazing results collected from over 700 residents by clicking here.”
Cr Hughes said the outdoor dining program is a great initiative, adding it will provide a boost for hospitality operators, particularly over summer, as the economy opens up post lockdown.