Monday, January 14, 2019

CAFES CLOSE IN QUEEN CITY, POP UP ON CROWNING ISLAND

The closure of  Townsville  cafes, including one of the last in the  Sizzlers  chain  in Australia , has  created  much  media comment, a lot of  it   about the  depressed  economy  of   the  city  and tough trading  conditions . Yet  just  across the  way , on  Magnetic Island , two new   cafes have   opened, there is  a proposal  for a  wine bar  ,  plus  a  building  boom  which  has  somehow gone  unnoticed by  MKR  mesmerised  reporters.  
Fronting  the roundabout just across from  IGA  and the   ferry parking area , the  above  seafood  business opened recently  .  Access is   via  a pedestrian  ramp  at  each end , a circular concrete parking area   at  the  rear . This has  raised   questions about how  vehicles will exit the  site as  there  are  double  lines in the road  , so   vehicles   will  have  to   turn  left  and proceed  up  the  hill  and travel   to Arcadia  before able to  turn around . 
 
There are unconfirmed reports that  the    double   lines   are  going to be  changed to  allow  right   turns  out  from  the café, which will  be  interesting . A    Rock  Paper Scissors  van  popped up in the Foodworks  parking area  in  part of  the  former  Curlew  Café  spot .

A licence is being sought   by   Cellars Pty Ltd   to operate   Smugglers Wine Bar , able  to handle   up  to   60 customers  at  any one time , operating    Monday to Sunday , in  premises to  be  built at  45 Sooning  Street , Nelly Bay , next to  the hardware  store .  Objections to the  venture  closed with  the Office of  Liquor and  Gaming Regulation November   30 , but   no   sober   media  organisation   seems   to  have    asked   the  obvious  question .
     
BUILDING ACTIVITY
 
Talk to tradesman   and they   tell you  the island   is providing   much   work,  some even  say  more  than  Townsville ;  tradies  seen coming backwards and forwards on  the    car ferry ,  a  Townsville   glass   company   makes  weekly  trips to the island   to meet the  demand .  Two  one million  dollar  houses  , refurbishment of the  old police  station with  52 windows , home renovations , some  vacant  blocks  selling , a sub division  or  two, residences    built  on  prime  waterfront blocks  at  Picnic Bay which had been  vacant for years . A spec  builder  on  the  island ...  
 
 There are  two  service stations on the island , a  site  is being  offered as  ideal for   another one. Might be needed to fuel  the increasing number of hire cars , some  lined up  like  used  cars  in  Parramatta  Road , Sydney .