Outdoor dining to transform Nepean Highway for local businesses
Published on 16 September 2021
Frankston City’s popular Do It Outdoors outdoor dining campaign will be expanded outside hospitality venues on Nepean Highway, Frankston, with innovative installations offering something for everyone.
South Ward Cr Liam Hughes said Council officers have collaborated closely with hospitality businesses and stakeholders to implement ‘parklets’ and extended kerbside dining. Parklets will utilise existing car parking spaces along with seated dining areas on the pavement.
Cr Hughes said installation is scheduled to start late September and will be followed by the kerbside implementation on the pavement being undertaken in October.
The new extended dining will cater for up to a total of 188 patrons outside 13 hospitality venues on both sides of Nepean Highway near Davey St and outside Quest.
Cr Hughes added: “The parklet design is the same as the ones currently in our City Centre on Wells Street and Beach Street and those in Station Street, Seaford. However, this is a larger area and 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. Council will activate this outdoor dining area with local musicians and entertainers,” Cr Hughes said.
Cr Hughes 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.
Cr Hughes said: “Hospitality is vital to our local economy with 655 businesses employing about 2862 people contributing an annual turnover of more than $345 million.
“The response to the Outdoor Dining and Activation Program has been positive from businesses. From Frankston South to the CBD, to Seaford and beyond, dining will be alive and buzzing across Frankston City with unique outdoor experiences catering for everyone as we head out of lockdown,” Cr Hughes said.
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.
Mr Edbrooke said: “I’m very proud that the Andrews State Government will be providing funding for the Nepean Highway outdoor dining project which has been such a success in other parts of Frankston. When it is time to safely enjoy everything our cafes and restaurants have to offer, Frankston will be the place to be!”
Deputy Mayor Nathan Conroy said when restrictions permit, it will be wonderful to see people frequenting hospitality venues and enjoying the numerous tasty temptations on offer across Frankston City.
Cr Conroy said: “The new outdoor dining options on the Nepean Highway will add to the al fresco dining experience. We encourage the community to support Frankston’s cafes, bars, restaurants and traders – the lockdowns have been challenging so let’s all ‘Do It Outdoors’ when restrictions permit.
“There’s a marvellous range of gastronomic delights and vibrant outdoor dining options in streets, laneways, footpaths, open spaces and car parks across Frankston City,” Cr Conroy said.
Business partners Marco Vanuzzo and Laura Reed, who run Non Solo Vino Italian Restaurant and Deli on Nepean Highway Frankston, said they are looking forward to the outdoor dining expansion outside their hospitality venue.
Ms Reed said: “We are so excited. We’re looking forward to the potential this is going to bring for more customers and increased foot traffic.”
Mr Vanuzzo said they had stayed positive during the lockdowns, adding: “We love Frankston. We believe in Frankston. It’s an amazing place.”