A Sunshine Coast brewery can open earlier on weekdays after reaching an agreement with council to end a long-running dispute over its trading hours.
Coolum Beer Company, at Junction Drive in the Coolum Industrial Estate, can now open its taproom and food and drink outlet from 3pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, 2pm on Wednesdays and midday on Thursdays and Fridays. Weekend trading hours remain unchanged.
The agreement with Sunshine Coast Council follows almost two years of uncertainty over weekday opening times and a Planning and Environment Court dispute involving the business.
Coolum Brewing Co Pty Ltd initially lodged a development application in November 2023 seeking to formalise its food service.
The company later appealed a council condition restricting the food and drink outlet’s operating hours, before a second appeal was filed this year over an enforcement notice relating to the approved hours.
The latest dispute had been listed for a three-day court hearing beginning on November 4.
Coolum Beer Company co-founder Rhod Williams said the new hours better reflected how customers were using the venue.
“We’ve grown into an important meeting place within the estate, and that’s something we’re really proud of,” Mr Williams said.
“The past couple of years have been challenging, so it means a lot to reach an outcome that supports what we’ve built and gives us room to grow.
“People walk over for lunch, bring a customer in for a meeting or finish their week with a few mates. These earlier hours mean we can be here when our customers want us to be.”
Parking within the industrial complex had been a central issue in the dispute.
Material filed during the proceedings included parking surveys, traffic engineering and town planning reports, as well as feedback from neighbouring businesses and workers.
The brewery said businesses sharing the car park had reported they had not experienced parking difficulties.
Sunshine Coast Events Industry Association president Lenny Vance said changing work and social habits meant businesses were responding to demand for earlier gatherings.
“The way people socialise is changing. With more flexible working hours, catching up with mates might mean a few beers at a brewery in the afternoon or an early meal, rather than a late night out,” Mr Vance said.
“Business owners are adapting to what their customers want, and it’s important that planning rules and approval processes can adapt too.”
The brewery said the dispute had cost it more than $100,000 in legal, planning and expert expenses, reducing money available for improvements, employment, sponsorships and fundraising.
“It’s been a significant expense for a small independent business, particularly knowing what those funds could have done for our team, the venue and the local causes we support,” Mr Williams said.
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Mr Williams also credited neighbouring businesses, staff, suppliers and customers with supporting the brewery during the dispute.
“Our neighbours took the time to share their experiences and explain why this place matters to them. Our staff and customers kept backing us, even when we couldn’t tell them when it would all be resolved,” he said.
“That support made a difficult couple of years easier, and we’re incredibly grateful.”
Under the agreement, the brewery will not seek further changes to its weekday opening times for 18 months.
