Public notification is now underway for a backpacker hostel’s plan to reintroduce a food and drink outlet on the site.
The 122-bed Bounce Hostel, opposite Noosa Village Shopping Centre at 14-16 Mary Street, Noosaville, has applied for an ‘other change’ to allow for the resumption of the cafe.
The hostel previously operated a cafe from December 2021 to June 2023 under a temporary use permit owing to Covid, and then again for 12 months until January this year.
The approvals allowed for non-staying guests to use the cafe and outdoor sundeck area for the consumption of food and beverages sold on site.
Town planning documents by Pivotal Perspective Pty Ltd on behalf of Bounce Hostel Noosa Pty Ltd state the cafe operated “without complaint for these years”.
The latest approval for the food and drink outlet was only valid until January and because no extension was submitted to Noosa Council the use has now lapsed.
“In assessing a request to extend the approval, council will have regard to any substantiated complaints relating to noise, car parking and any other relevant matters associated with the food and drink outlet use,” the condition said.
The current ‘other change’ proposal, which was submitted in September, seeks to restore the approval for a cafe permanently.
The application is subject to public notification, which opened on November 14 and closes on December 5.
“The applicant has demonstrated, for more than three years, that the noise and car parking onsite can be successfully managed and no concerns have been raised by neighbours or surrounding residents over this time,” the application says.
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“The proposed use and car parking is generally considered to meet the (required council) outcomes as the site is well located in walking distance to surrounding accommodation and likely users, is on a bus route and peak times are likely to be outside peak operations of the surrounding commercial development.
“Whilst the proposal falls short of the required carparking, the applicant has previously demonstrated that the use can operate without impacting on the surrounding area.”
The resort-style hostel facility opened in September 2021 after being approved by the council in November 2018.
Property owner Mark Baldwin decided at the time to open a section of the resort to 36 hospitality workers for $200 a week to help alleviate the rental crisis.
“Hospitality workers are an integral part of Noosa’s hospitality and tourism offering,” he said.
Related story: Call for ‘adopt a worker’ campaign to secure staff
The Bounce Noosa website says it is “the perfect choice for groups of friends, couples and solo travellers wanting to explore the beauty of Noosa”.
“Spend your days soaking up the sun and relaxing by our outdoor pool. We like to think of ourselves as a social hotel and there is no better way to socialise with other guests than by grabbing a few drinks from our poolside bar (subject to approval),” it says.
