Fees waived - expand your food business to the footpath!

Published on 13 December 2016

Rockhampton Regional Council is introducing a footpath dining application fee waiver to encourage existing and new business to establish footpath dining in the CBD and other centres.

Mayor Margaret Strelow said free footpath dining application fees from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2018 would incentivise the Region’s growing café culture. 

“Footpath dining creates vibrancy, increases pedestrian traffic and provides attractive places for people to meet and socialise,” Mayor Strelow said.

“With 300 days of sunshine a year in our Region, our community should be able to take advantage of outdoor dining opportunities,” she said.

Chair of Planning and Regulatory Committee Councillor Ellen Smith said that by introducing this waiver, food businesses would be able to trial this initiative free for the first two years.

“We will be saving them a $237 application fee, while existing permit holders will receive a 50% refund on this year’s paid fees,” Cr Smith said.

From 1 July 2018 onwards, approved applications will then only be required to pay annual renewal fees (currently at $75 pa for 2016/17 FY) should they intend to continue providing outdoor dining.

This initiative will provide business operators the ability to expand floor space at minimal cost which may improve the commercial capacity of their business

Council is committed to helping our local businesses and will notify eligible businesses of this opportunity in the New Year. 

Further information about the footpath dining application process will be published on Council’s website prior to 1 January 2017.