Yanchep Lagoon cafe issue back before council this month

A REPORT on leasing Yanchep Lagoon cafe is due to be considered during a confidential City of Wanneroo council session this month, despite previously being publicly available.

In July, the council agenda cited a lack of bacon and eggs on the breakfast menu as one of the reasons for a cafe lease applicant rating lower than another applicant.

However, the City withdrew the report on the proposed lease of the Yanchep Lagoon cafe building before the July 19 meeting. It had recommended councillors endorse existing tenants Peter and Susan Morgan as the preferred candidate out of 38 expressions of interest submitted.

The recommendation was to approve a five-year lease in principle, with an option to extend it for another five years and issue a public notice for it.

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The July 12 briefing session report said the Morgan Family Trust submission scored highest, followed closely by Fudge Espresso, but the latter’s proposal was better suited to an inner-city cafe.

“Fudge submitted a menu that was arguably more trend-oriented than family-oriented, and was less extensive,” it said.

“For example, the breakfast menu lacked bacon and eggs.

“The existing operator’s submission was considered to better reflect the location and anticipated community expectations for the premises.

“Its menu offered a great deal of variety to accommodate the demands of locals, tourists and other customers, and the fit-out and branding was more sensitive to local traditions.

“The engagement of an indigenous artist to assist with brand re-design was viewed as a positive aspect of the existing operator’s submission.”

Due to expire on September 30, the Price Family Trust has held the present site sub-lease since 1995, and the Morgans, as tenants, have operated it as Yanchep Beach Lagoon Cafe since 2007.

The council is due to consider a confidential report on leasing the cafe at its September 13 meeting.