A popular cafe has moved “onwards and upwards” after moving out of its previous home of three years.
After cementing itself as a successful business in Caloundra’s Hub Shared Space, the Malarkey Artisan Coffee team has fitted out a horse float and relocated as a pop-up cafe to the Resolve Fitness car park in the grounds of the Caloundra RSL.
The Hub Shared Space, located on Oval Avenue, is among the properties marked for resumption by the Sunshine Coast Council to make way for the new Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade (CTCU).
Malarkey owner Nicole Waddell said relocating late last year because of “lease issues” was a bittersweet situation that had shown her the true value of community, who heavily supported the move.
“We only had to close for two days of trade,” she said.
“We were really lucky that the Caloundra RSL were able to help us out for the time being by letting us pop up on their grounds.
“It’s all been very positive and it is going well … we are focusing on the positives and moving forward.”
She revealed a new permanent location for Malarkey was in the works and hoped it would be up and running within the next three months.
“It’s very exciting, watch this space,” she said.
“This is like Malarkey 1.5 until we get to Malarkey 2.0.”
The $37.8m CTCU will provide a new connection from Nicklin Way, north of the Caloundra Road roundabout, to the city centre.
It involves widening Oval Avenue and Third Avenue from two to four traffic lanes and connecting Oval Avenue with Omrah Avenue.
The project, funded by three levels of government, will require the resumption of 20 properties – 14 homes, five businesses and an organisation – and impact community groups like the Caloundra RSL.
The Hub Shared Space comprises of several businesses itself, with co-owner Chris Brearley revealing they intended to relocate all seven small business tenants “when and if the resumption went ahead”.
Ms Waddell said her ongoing communication with the council around the impacts of the CTCU to her business had been “great and easy”.
“I’m happy we can move forward with our relocation and now we don’t have to worry so much about the CTCU coming through, which is awesome,” she said.
“We all know it’s going to happen (the CTCU), we’ve tried as hard as we can to stop it. We put out petitions to try and move it and change the mind of the council, but the council are bigger than we are.
“I personally can’t get compensation … but at the end of the day I can still run my business.
“It’s such a hard thing (the CTCU) – there should have been more planning done, that’s for sure.”
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A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the 1.6km CTCU would improve connectivity and travel choice into Caloundra by creating a new connection into the CBD and reducing traffic congestion.
“The CTCU has been planned since the early 2000s and community consultation taken place multiple times since 2013,” the spokesperson said.
“In response to community feedback, the CTCU concept design continues to be refined.
“However, adjacent to the Hub, the width of the corridor has been finalised and designed to the absolute minimum to provide for all modes of transport and necessary facilities within the corridor.”
The spokesperson said the council aimed to give impacted landowners as much notice as possible and offers to acquire the properties ahead of the resumption process.
“When the CTCU project was endorsed by council in 2019, impacted property owners were immediately contacted to advise them of the future project and offered to acquire their properties via negotiation,” they said.
“This included paying for reasonable disturbance costs should they wish to sell to council early. Council gives the occupants a very long lead time and also offers a rent-back arrangement.
“Since then, council has provided correspondence to property owners advising of the project and acquisition, and, if required, the resumption process.
“Early construction works for the project are expected to commence early in the 2023-2024 financial year, so council will not be able to extend the vacant possession date beyond 30 June 2023 (subject to council being the owner of the properties).”
Ms Waddell thanked the community for its support.
“I wouldn’t have a business without customers or loyalty. I have a young family, it allows me to live my passion and my dream, and having that customer base has been next level,” she said.
“There are so many people who have made Malarkey what it is today, including our incredible staff and amazing customers. It has meant the world.”
For more information about the project, visit council’s Caloundra Transport Corridor Upgrade website.
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