Library seeks expressions of interest for coffee cart

The Arana Hills Library is hoping to expand its offerings in the new year by providing a dedicated space for a local community group to serve up food and hot beverages to visitors. 

Expressions of Interest (EOI) are now open for a community group to operate a coffee cart or coffee van at the library for 12 months, with an option to extend for up to three years.

Division 10 Councillor Matt Constance says visitors had long been asking for a food outlet at the library.

“We’ve heard loud and clear that locals would love to stay longer and relax at the library, but there are no retailers nearby offering food or coffee,” Cr Constance says. 

“So, this is a unique and special opportunity for a not-for-profit or community group to bring a real sense of vibrancy to an already bustling precinct.

“Personally, I’d love to see a coffee van or cart that offers professional development and training for people living with disabilities, looking to gain new skills or returning to the workforce.”

Finer details

The successful applicant will be provided with a space to operate either a coffee cart on the library deck overlooking the park, or a coffee van in an allocated parking bay in the lower carpark.

The cart or van would be serving up not only much-needed coffee and other refreshments, but also generate revenue that would be pumped back into social and environmental benefits for the local community, while some of the funds would also be retained by the organisation to support the running costs.

The coffee cart or van would also be provided with free access to water and electricity to enable the sale of refreshments to visitors, with Council to cover these costs.

A much-loved community garden installed earlier this year would provide additional opportunities for the business operator to utilise some of the produce in the refreshments they serve up.

How to apply

Community groups have until 4pm on Friday, February 11, 2022, to submit their application.

An information pack is available to help organisations prepare their EOI submission.

Visit https://www.moretonbay.qld.gov.au/Services/Community-Support/Arana-Hills-Coffee-Van to find out more.