Happy Wife customers unhappy with council's decision

Updated: Owners of the Happy Wife Cafe will have to lodge a new development application and provide additional car parking bays before they can re-open the cafe’s alfresco dining.

The closure of the expanded dining area in June caused outrage among its customers because it removed the seating area closest to the Leschenault Inlet.

To re-open the extra 40sq m of outdoor seating the Happy Wife – in Austral Parade, East Bunbury – has been asked to meet the council’s parking regulations.

After negotiations with a nearby business the owners will acquire an extra four parking spaces to meet the council’s requirement.

If investigations into more parking on nearby roads show angled parking could increase the number of bays the owner will also be asked to contribute cash to develop more parking in the area.

A cost of these extra parking spaces is yet to be determined.

Mayor David Smith said he was concerned the cost of additional parking would be too cumbersome for the owners and the council would help boost parking in the area.

The council received a complaint about the area’s parking issues in June and the potential adverse effects of the Happy Wife’s expanded operations on nearby businesses.

Despite being presented with a petition signed by 900 people, the council rejected the cafe owners’ request to expand the seating area without offering more on-site car parking.

City of Bunbury director of planning and development Bob Karaszkewych said the cafe would have to comply with the development application until the council granted a new approval allowing the cafe’s expanded alfresco area.

This updated version contain a correction from our previous story: The Times previously reported the Happy Wife would need to provide an additional six bays, on top of its existing two. The owners will provide an additional four bays.