A stalled planning process will finally come to an end for a Ballarat cafe seeking to grow its business and extend its liquor licence.
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Healthy Hub cafe opened on Bridge Mall last week, but is still waiting for Ballarat City Council to approve amended liquor licence and car parking requests.
The cafe’s owners have submitted a proposal to extend the red line, which is the area where alcohol can be consumed, onto the street in front of the shop.
Adding a yoga room and function room upstairs also required council to consider the effect more patrons will have on parking.
Co-owner Luke Gibson said the planning process had taken some time.
“It has not been very easy,” he said.
“The time frame was supposed to be set at six weeks, however we have not felt a huge amount of support as a new business.
“It has been a long process.”
Should the amendments be approved it will help realise the owners’ plan to create a hub for healthy living on Bridge Mall.
All food at the cafe is organically produced and it also does not used plastic.
All takeaway drink cups and food containers are made from compostable corn starch and sugar cane packaging.
Council will vote on the planning amendments at its ordinary meeting on Wednesday night.
Mr Gibson owns the cafe with his wife, Stacey, and their business partner Brooke Byvoet.
He said the cafe’s liquor licence would allow Healthy Hub to sell organic alcohol, including beer, wine and spirits.
“There was an existing licence changed into our name,” he said.
“It will include organic, bio-dynamic spirits, and in the future hopefully beer from a couple of local suppliers.
“We have invested quite a lot, now we need the permits to get going.”