JOSH BRINE
BERRI Barmera Council will investigate turning a vacant building in the heart of the Berri CBD into a multi-functional space and café, following a decision by elected members last week.
At last Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting, councillors voted to instruct staff to continue exploring turning the former Alfresco’s Café building on Vaughan Terrace into a council community space with a café run by a private operator.
Council CEO Karyn Burton said other options included privately leasing the café and setting up a social enterprise café.
“This council community space will allow, for example, an existing coffee shop to set up an extension of their existing café on days where there might be community events or gatherings happening in that space,” she said.
“We don’t want it to compete with existing cafés. It’s about giving existing businesses the opportunity to use that space from time to time.”
The decision follows public consultation about the future use of the space in April this year, when almost 80 per cent of respondents indicated they wanted it turned into a cafe, provedore or meeting place that would serve as a space for community activities.
In a report to council, environmental, economic and major projects manager Conny Wilson said the space had potential to incorporate a “pop-up mini library, a reading nook, and a range of social activities”.
“The model would incorporate a manager to oversee the café operations, as well as the development of a program of community activities that is determined by council,” she said.
“The objective would be to create spaces, events and programming that will be accessible, adaptable, flexible and agile.”
Ms Burton said the building required a range of works to bring it back into “usable order”, including a kitchen overhaul, painting, reflooring and outdoor work.
“The works are expected to cost in the range of $150,000 to $200,000,” she said.
“It’s pretty much in disrepair, but the will of the chamber and the community is to have something there.
“It’s about getting the centre of the CBD activated again and getting people in the town.”
Ms Burton said community groups are able to contact council to use the space for events in the meantime.