REDLAND’S newest outdoor eating precinct Chef’s Inc has hit a roadblock, with the project delayed as it meets state government regulations regarding contaminated sites.
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The eat street-style project is proposed for the Redland City Council car park behind the Cleveland Library and opposite Raby Bay harbour.
It will have 12 outdoor restaurants operating out of shipping containers, a bar, live music and seating for 600. The shipping containers will be modified architecturally to present as small cafe outlets.
It was meant to open in October or November but no work has started yet.
Mayor Karen Williams said a petrol station had operated on the library site before it was bought by council. This meant the block of land was regarded as a contaminated site.
“This issue has had to be worked through at state level,” she said. “Everything is now pretty much in accord with the Department of Environment and Heritage and Chef’s Inc has got all necessary approvals in place.”
Chef’s Inc project manager Oliver Findlay said it was hoped to have the project open in the first week of January.
He said the contaminated land was under the library which was where the old garage had been located.
But because the entire parcel of land was registered as one block, all of the area was listed on the Queensland government Contaminated Land Register.
The matter had now been clarified but had delayed start up.
He said it was disappointing to have missed the early summer eating-out crowds.
“Now it’s just about getting it up and open,” he said.
Mr Findlay said a start date for works was being negotiated with council to get staff onto the site and move containers in.
Cr Williams said the project’s development application would determine its operating conditions regarding issues like noise and access.
The project has been controversial because of objections from residents from surrounding units. Restaurant owners also have complained that it likely will cause some existing businesses to go broke.
Councillors believed that so long as the project met planning conditions, they could not fairly interfere in the proposal on behalf of existing traders.
Mr Findlay said that with the project located near the Cleveland Railway station and Raby Bay it was hoped that it would attract diners from outside the Redlands.
