UPDATE
A Brimbank-council run cafe in Sunshine will close in March despite more than 100 residents calling for it to remain open.
A council report has revealed that income at the Sunshine Leisure Centre cafe dropped from $109,672 for the 2011-12 financial year to just $27,208 for the six months to November 12 this year.
The council report said a lack of facilities limited the cafe’s ability to make a profit and it was relying on a “significant subsidy” to operate.
It’s unclear how many staff will lose their jobs.
Council administrators ticked off the cafe’s closure last night without discussion, despite receiving a petition with 103 signatures calling for its retention.
The council report recommended “A small amount of funding would be required to make alterations to the cafe space to re-purpose it if the cafe is closed,” a council report found.
“The social meeting space with tables and chairs will remain if the cafe is closed and the council will provide tea and coffee- making facilities at no charge to address concerns.”
The council also voted to close the crèche at the St Albans Leisure Centre permanently, after it was temporarily closed in February due to structural problems.
Administrator Jane Nathan said it made financial sense to close the crèche, which cost more than $40,000 a year to operate.
“Council has to be careful with how we spend our money,” she said.
“It was virtually impossible to justify continuing with the crèche.”
