LITTLE Olly’s Cafe will continue trading at Oliver’s Hill thanks to the success of a passionate, community-backed campaign.
Early last week, the operators of Little Olly’s and neighbouring Cripps Fish and Chips were told that their permit to trade at the Oliver’s Hill boat ramp would not be renewed. Frankston Council planned to replace the two businesses with a mobile Mercetta’s restaurant.
More than 12,000 people signed a petition protesting the removal of the popular portable cafe from its home at Oliver’s Hill. Late on Friday people power won out, and Frankston Council announced that Little Olly’s and Cripps Fish and Chips would be allowed to trade alongside Mercetta’s.
Little Olly’s Cafe van has been operating for three years. An online statement from Little Olly’s after the closure announcement read that the cafe was being “forced to say goodbye to our wonderful customers, team and suppliers at the end of October.”
“Over the past three years, we have accomplished more than we ever imagined. Our vision was to build a community at the boat ramp by providing great coffee, and friendly service. We think, with your help and loyalty, we have achieved this and more. Apart from playing some part in helping you through lock down, we have loved sharing the joys of your lives,” the statement read.
On Friday, a much happier statement from Little Olly’s read “we are so grateful to share that we will be able to remain in our home at the bottom of Oliver’s Hill, for at least the next 12 months. Beyond that, the council have asked us to assist them in developing and improving the tender process for the future.”
“We have been incredibly humbled by the unwavering, genuine support shown by you all – over 12,000 petitioners. How incredibly lucky we feel having such a connected strong community.”
Frankston Council was savaged over the initial decision. Council CEO Phil Cantillon defended the decision, saying that the recent lease application process had been fair. Council received 18 applications for 12 month leases as part of its license renewal process in August, with one of the locations under consideration the site at Oliver’s Hill.
“I have no reason to believe that the applications were not assessed fairly and by a diverse panel of council officers to inform the decisions on each site,” he said.
Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke publicly signalled his support for the existing vendors on Facebook last week.
Frankston councillor Steven Hughes slammed council for the decision to move Little Olly’s on. “Tens of millions of ratepayers dollars are spent on big, flashy buildings that could easily be saved or deferred. This photo-op obsession is, I believe, the reason for the Olly’s permit non-renewal. The prospect of having a well-to-do, high status food provider from Mornington at Oliver’s Hill was the death knell for the small, unassuming Olly’s. This is a council so focused on its image that it is willing to sell out small local businesses, and entirely ignore the financial plight of those they govern, for the purposes of their own relentless self-promotion,” he said.
No boat ramp parking will be lost as a result of having three operators at the site.