Upgrades to Caroline Springs Boulevard will require the removal of dining booths along the strip, and one restaurateur said businesses are fearful of the impact it will have on the area.
Temporary dining booths were installed at the front of restaurants in 2020 to help with COVID social distancing laws.
The booths were originally permitted to be there for a year after the state of emergency was declared over in December 2021, but council extended the permit to help businesses in the precinct during the warmer months.
Now, council is preparing to build a long-planned signalised pedestrian crossing out the front of the library, which will require the removal of dining booths with about 50 seats from the restaurants opposite.
Joseph Fadlallah has owned Blue Marlin Fish ‘n’ Chips for seven years, and he said the booths have been an amazing benefit to nearby restaurant.
“It has helped so much, a lot of people come, they sit where there’s a lot of room. A lot of people enjoy the good atmosphere. People care about coming,” he said.
“I find it really annoying that this is all going – they want to remove it, they want to make it all concrete,” he said.
“It’ll mean less foot traffic, less people coming through Caroline Springs. A lot of our customers come from other suburbs… they come down here because there’s a vibe… [removing dining booths] will ruin it completely.”
Mr Fadlallah said he wished council was more communicative through out the planning process for Caroline Springs Boulevard upgrades.
“They’re not the ones that are looking after it everyday, we are,” he said.
“As a business owner, I actually really want them to come and speak to us, come and see what we want.”
The issue was raised in a council meeting in October when councillor Steve Abboushi moved for council to review alternatives to the construction of the pedestrian crossing which would enable existing dining booths to remain “as a matter of urgency”.
The report has since been conducted and came back before council at a meeting in late-February. However, it found “no feasible options” to construct the signal crossing and retain the booths.
Cr Abbosuhi said he hopes council can do something to help businesses there in the future.
“Caroline Springs Boulevard has become a destination, it’s very important for our residents. We want to draw people in, we want to make sure they spend their money in our local economy, we want to make sure they’re supporting our local business, but more importantly, we want to make sure they have a main destination in Caroline Springs that is very inviting,” he said.
“I hope that when we remove those dining booths that we put something there that is going to be attractive, that is going to be inviting, because as a local resident in the eastern corridor, it doesn’t matter what season it is, there are always people frequenting the main strip. We want to draw people there and make sure they stay there.
“I hope that… we look after that main strip because it is the focal point for Caroline Springs and the eastern corridor.”
Melton council Engagement and Advocacy manager Sean McManus said critical road upgrades along Caroline Springs Boulevard-Gourlay Road will improve traffic flow, safety, and congestion issues.
“Removal of the existing temporary dining booths along Caroline Springs Boulevard is required for the construction of a signalised pedestrian crossing,” he said.
“Design of the crossing includes an outdoor dining area adjacent to traders accessible through Melton City Council’s footpath trading permit proess.
“Council officers will liaise with traders for opportunities in the newly created expanded outdoor dining space.”
