Bass Coast Shire Council is helping local businesses to create outdoor trading and dining spaces across the Shire this summer.
Council received $500,000 from the State Government's COVIDSafe Outdoor Activation Fund to create new outdoor dining spaces. As part of this project, two 'skiplets' will be installed. Skiplets are made from revamped skip bins, that have timber floors, seating and coastal plants to accommodate diners in a COVID-safe way.
Bass Coast Shire Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan said that a skiplet is located outside The Seaside Provider at Newhaven and will be located outside Gelato Al Mare in Inverloch.
"The skiplets are being leased and will remain in place for six months," Cr Whelan said.
The funding will also be used to facilitate 16 parklets across the Shire, including some of the spaces established last summer.
"In Inverloch, outdoor dining spaces have been set up in the car spaces along A'Beckett Street and The Inlet Hotel will continue outdoor trading in their purpose built shipping containers," Cr Whelan said.
"Deck chairs will be available outside of the Inverloch Community Hub during office hours, weather permitting."
In San Remo, Westernport Hotel and San Remo Hotel customers will continue to enjoy the outdoor parklets that were activated last summer, as well as the new picnic tables that have been installed along the grassed foreshore area.
In Cowes, The Esplanade has been transformed into one-way traffic to enable Hotel Phillip Island, M&O Café and Tapas and North Pier Hotel to expand their outdoor trading capacity.
"We've also just opened an Expression of Interest for Cowes-based businesses to operate from Olive Justice Place this summer," Cr Whelan said.
"We welcome creative ideas from hospitality, beauty or retail businesses, community groups, children's entertainers, artists or creatives on how they can activate this precinct and their help their business."
In Grantville, the outdoor dining area set up between the shops will operate again this summer.
"We continue to encourage businesses to contact our Business and Industry Development Team if they are interested in creating an outdoor trading space," Cr Whelan concluded.
