Al fresco street dining could become more commonplace this summer as Auckland Council has agreed to extend existing and new food-only outdoor licences issues under the Trading and Events in Public Places Bylaw, but the catch is there’s still a cost to business and there’s a call from the Restaurant Association and Heart of the City to have all costs waived.
Extensions to existing licenses will cover the equivalent timeframe that the trading restrictions at Alert Levels 4, 3 and 2 has been confirmed at no extra cost. However, businesses wanting to apply for new licenses and extended outdoor dining areas will still have to pay upfront costs of an application fee and rental costs.
This will prohibit a number of businesses from being able to take up the opportunity.
Both organisations have requested that these fees are waived, and that the provision for more space for dining is extended until April.
Venues will also not need a street trading license to use the area in front of their business for contactless pick-ups during Alert Level 3. While Alcohol licenses cannot be fast-tracked, food only outdoor dining licenses and extension can now be fast-tracked. Applications for use of the footpath or other public space outside businesses will also now be considered.
“This could be a real boost to struggling hospitality businesses who will need every bit of extra space to increase revenue whilst maintaining physical distancing regulations,” said Marisa Bidois, CEO of the Restaurant Association.
“We’ve been working with Heart of the City to get our businesses in the best possible trading position when we drop alert levels so whilst we’re delighted to be able to get this far but we need Council to also drop the associated costs.
“At this point the extension will not apply to new liquor licenses and liquor license extensions which still require a separate application process but we have written to the justice department to request that they look into how we can expedite liquor license applications.”
Heart of the City Chief Executive, Viv Beck added that she’d love to see hospitality businesses spill outside and have more space for dining if they need it.
“Having a quicker turnaround for applications is welcome - but we do want to see Council remove cost barriers and also extend the trading time across the summer. There is still much uncertainty for businesses so let’s make sure this can happen as soon as we hit Level 2. We are liaising with other business associations and this will benefit other areas across Auckland too.”
Regional councils could take a cue from overseas, last year, a pilot scheme to help restaurants provide outdoor eating and drinking was launched in England as part of the Liverpool Without Walls project to re-imagine the city under social distancing rules.
The scheme aimed at giving businesses in Liverpool the best chance of being able to trade and included closing popular restaurant destination streets to traffic across the summer and the introducing street furniture and parklets, which turned existing parking bays into dining areas.
Imaginative ideas like these are what seem to be lacking from our government both on a local and national level - how great would it be to have less cars and more people dining in the city centres across Aotearoa - an area hardest hit by lockdowns and work-from-home measures.
Perhaps it’s time the industry started leading the way with these initiatives rather than waiting on government go-ahead? Any one else up for nation-wide block parties this summer? (Vaccines permitting of course).
