Geelong Beach House closes over health breaches
The Beach House Restaurant at Eastern Beach in Geelong closed down over the Anzac Day weekend, blaming it all on the council refusing to negotiate a less restrictive lease.
Business owners Ross and Rylea Adams also cited the “extreme seasonality” of local tourism.
In an email to staff, they said their calls for “leniency with rent” had “fallen on deaf ears with no support from their (the council) end”.
Mr Adams said the council was to blame for the sudden closure.
As the landlord of the historic property, the council had failed to “come to the party” and negotiate the lease in good faith.
“We have 18 months on our lease left,” Mr Adams told the Geelong Advertiser. “We need that renegotiated and they (the council) are not being helpful.”
”It’s disappointing for the business to come to that stage. We haven’t been thinking of this for a while; it’s a spur of the moment sort of decision.”
But the council has hit back, pointing out that the operators have to front up in Geelong Magistrates Court next month following alleged breaches of the Food Act.
The council claims it had only had two meetings with the couple in the last two years and had not heard from them since last September.
The council’s investment and attraction general manager Brett Luxford said the council had handled this case appropriately.
“We believe we have complied with all legislative requirements and obligations under our lease with the current tenant, and have offered ongoing support to help his business operations,” Mr Luxford told the Geelong Advertiser.
“For example, when requested, (the) council offered flexible rent payment plans to take into account the seasonal nature of the business.”
With the iconic business reportedly shutting its doors, it’s not clear whether staff will receive all, or for that matter any, of their entitlements.
Leon Gettler, 28th April 2016
