Via Dolce owner Joe Pelle says people want better shelter. Photo: Via Dolce.
Online and paper petitions have tapped a strong appetite for more sheltered dining sites in Garema Place in the wake of the Via Dolce gazebo removal, and will be enough to force a Legislative Assembly committee inquiry into the new restrictive guidelines.
Launched by Via Dolce owner Joel Pelle last week, the petitions have attracted more than 2200 signatures, with the online Assembly petition sponsored by Liberal MLA Mark Parton almost reaching 1000 by Monday morning.
They call for the ACT Government to change the guidelines for outdoor dining in Garema Place to allow shelters that are more suitable to Canberra’s climate.
The City Renewal Authority’s new Outdoor Dining Toolkit for the pedestrian mall in the heart of the city only allows for umbrellas and awnings for protection, which Mr Pelle’s petition says is incompatible with Canberra’s weather extremes.
“The ACT Government’s extraordinary changes to the outdoor dining guidelines for Garema Place are contradictory to the lived experience of stakeholders, both businesses and clients,” the petition says.
“Winters in Canberra are inhospitable to unprotected outdoor dining, even with heaters.”
The petition says the Toolkit was seemingly developed without any awareness of Canberra’s climate.
“Whilst businesses are supportive of the upgrades to Garema Place, and the government’s attempts to make Garema Place a desirable place to visit, the changes to outdoor dining rules will have a detrimental impact on Garema Place traders.”
Mr Pelle said the response to the petitions had been overwhelming. He said the online petition reached the 500-signature threshold for an inquiry by lunchtime on day one.
He believed it had been a logical response from Canberrans.
“I suppose people are saying it just makes sense to have some better shelter than the umbrella,” Mr Pelle said.
“It won’t cut it in the winter and in the rain. We knew that and we saw the demand for that way back when, and that’s why we applied to get this gazebo up in the first place, and it was very well received, it was very popular, and to people’s dismay when they saw it gone.”
Mr Parton said support for the petition reflected that Canberrans want a range of different options when dining out.
“It also shows that Canberrans understand small businesses and they don’t appreciate it when the government doesn’t listen to community concerns,” he said.
The Via Dolce gazebo in Garema Place was popular. Photo: Via Dolce.
The government says it does not want sight lines obscured or public space privatised in Garema Place, but Mr Pelle said these were weak arguments.
He said buildings obscure things, as do umbrellas with people sitting under them. At night, activity in Garema Place was minimal during the week.
Mr Pelle said a covered shelter, at least, was needed to protect diners, but the public had also suggested pull-down blinds to protect them from the wind and rain.
However, this was not permitted under the guidelines because it created an enclosed space.
Mr Pelle said any structure should be developed in consultation with the CRA, which helped design the gazebo that was eventually removed last month to allow Garema Place upgrades to continue.
“They’re very helpful in that area, and that’s what I would expect for applying down the track,” he said.
Mr Pelle said the petition numbers showed authorities that this was what the people of Canberra wanted.
“They don’t see it as an offensive thing. They actually see it as a logical, progressive addition to the city dining scene,” he said.
Mr Pelle said he hoped people power could change the government’s mind.
Via Dolce was overwhelmed and humbled by the support from Canberrans.
The petition also calls for genuine consultation with traders on future outdoor dining-related guidelines and for the government to discuss protocols for the implementation of future regulatory changes with businesses before significant investments are approved.
Via Dolce’s application to relocate the removed gazebo to Bunda Street is still being assessed.
