Cafe donates outdoor furniture to the public

A Umina cafe has donated its outdoor furniture for public use after being asked by the Central Coast Council to remove it under new council provisions.

Jasmine Greens Cafe owner, Ms Gabby Greyem said: "We're located in a park and not on a busy urban street, so I don't see how Council's Guidelines for Business Use of Public Footpath Policy applies in our situation.

"Our furniture attracts people to come to the park and stay longer," she said.

She said the council had similar outdoor furniture in the park.

"No one can tell the difference between council's furniture and our furniture, but council has told us that there are different rules for their deck chairs and our chairs."

The cafe, which operates from a council facility in the Peninsula Recreation Precinct, was a popular park-side destination, she said.

Since its opening in June 2014, Ms Greyem said the cafe had invested more than $3000 in outdoor furniture for its customers.

"The biggest complaint we receive is that we don't provide enough furniture," she said.

Ms Greyem said she had decided, in light of new council provisions, to donate the cafe's outdoor furniture to its customers.

Ms Greyem said donating the furniture for the public to use was in line with the Council's aim to make the most of our outdoor spaces.

"It's not uncommon for people to take several of our tables and host a birthday party on them under the trees, and we think that's great," she said.

Ms Greyem said the cafe made regular contributions to the community, and provided community service for Central Coast Council's Place Making Team.

Every day the cafe's staff set up and pack away deck chairs and a mobile library as well as store flags for the Get Active fitness program, she said.

Ms Greyem said the furniture was often seen as a public resource.

"We offer this service for free to the council and no one can tell the difference between council's furniture and our furniture."

Ms Greyem said that Jasmine Greens customers had embraced the adoption of the cafe's furniture knowing they had their own seat and table to sit at when they visited the park.

Media release, 17 Jun 2016

Gabby Greyem, Jasmine Greens Cafe