Plans are afoot for night markets, outdoor cinema nights and an outdoor dining area at a Sunshine Coast function venue and cafe.
The market, cinema nights and outdoor dining are mentioned in applications for minor changes to the development approvals at Stonebridge Gardens, on Rifle Range Road, Palmwoods.
The gardens were established more than 20 years ago by Max Carmichael and Eddie Ward, who had been running the venue more recently with Bec Trimble.
The sale of the property, announced in a Facebook post in September, took many by surprise.
Applications for minor changes – which also seek to extend the opening hours – have been submitted by Project Urban on behalf of Voyager Retreat, as the trustee for the Palmwoods Unit Trust.
One application proposes the markets, cinema, monthly events, workshops in beekeeping, eco-living and permaculture, and farm tours, as well as weddings, funerals and blessings.
The letter says the items on the list are “not intended to be exhaustive” and asks the council to confirm that they are within the current planning approval for the property.
The other application involves changes to the infrastructure on the property.
It seeks permission to enclose the restaurant deck with casement glazing and weatherboard cladding, and to rework the layout of an approved function area to include a product display area, bar, cold room, dry store, office, all-access toilet and new bathrooms, a cleaners’ room, an awning and staff access.
It also requests the council endorse a 250sqm outdoor dining area on the lower northern grass slope.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
Voyager Retreat also seeks to align the opening hours with Stonebridge’s liquor licence hours, which would mean the venue could open seven days a week from 7am to 11pm.
It also seeks permission to remove wedding setups after they finish, between 10pm and midnight.
Under the current conditions, the cafe-restaurant at Stonebridge Gardens cannot be open when a wedding is held there but a request has been submitted for the removal of this condition.
The minor changes applications were accompanied by a letter from Michelle Clark, of Alsahwa Estates, an entity of the owner.
Ms Clark writes “we are excited to take on this incredible opportunity to grow and expand on the foundation the previous owners created”.
Voyager Retreat applied earlier this year to build short-term cabins on land at Sudholz Road, Verrierdale, but the council has requested further information.
Sunshine Coast News attempted to contact Alsawha.
