Outdoor dining areas have exploded across Greater Geelong, with nearly 40 venues expanding or creating alfresco spaces in the past two months.
The City has approved 38 temporary outdoor dining permits across the municipality since a COVID-safe return to seated service was permitted.
This allows more than 530 outdoor dining seats to be offered across venues in a dozen different suburbs.
Restaurants, cafes, hotels and bars have improved their outdoor dining experience, installing items such as marquees, planter boxes, umbrellas and temporary barriers.
Temporary permits have been approved in suburbs such as Geelong, Geelong West, Newtown, Belmont, Herne Hill, Highton, Leopold, Belmont, East Geelong, Armstrong Creek, Waurn Ponds and Rippleside.
They add to the 158 City-issued alfresco dining permits already in operation before outdoor dining was allowed to resume in September.
To help hospitality businesses recover from the impacts of the pandemic, the Council has waived all outdoor dining fees for 2021 and refunded 2020 fees.
Additionally, the City also waived A-frame permits and food premises registrations.
The measures form part of the Council’s overall support package for businesses and the community, budgeted at an estimated $16.9 million.
The City encourages venues hoping to make use of outdoor spaces to collaborate with neighbouring traders and contact us with their clever and creative ideas.
Our free Business Concierge service can quickly assist traders through the required process.
We are also supporting local businesses through the ‘It’s Our Backyard’ marketing campaign.
‘It’s Our Backyard’ spotlights our local traders and encourages the community to back Geelong and to think local first when seeking goods or services.
Visit www.geelongaustralia.com.au/itsourbackyard
