WAITING in line outside Gawler’s The Exchange hotel on Friday nights will soon be a thing of the past after the venue received permission to increase its capacity by up to 120 people.

Gawler Council, at its meeting last Tuesday, voted 6-3 in favour of allowing the popular Murray Street pub to raise its patronage to 350 people on its most frequented night of the week, reversing
a previous decision made by elected members only two months earlier.

Councillors knocked back the initial proposal in late July after disagreeing on how much money The Exchange should contribute to the council’s car-parking fund, as a result of the increased number of people expected to enter the venue.

The Exchange owner Damian McGee had offered to pay $20,000 into the fund, which elected members argued was well short of the $300,000 the administration was seeking as per its gazetted
rate.

However, a new offer of $40,000 put forward last Tuesday night was enough to satisfy the majority of councillors, with a subsequent motion put forward by councillor Nathan Shanks getting enough votes to be passed.

Mr McGee said the “common sense” decision was a positive for businesses in Gawler, and would directly result in The Exchange hiring three new employees.

“I want to congratulate the elected body for coming to the decision that can be seen, and should be seen, as pro local business,” he said.

“I’m still waiting for the official approval to come from council admin, but the best thing is that once I receive it, then we’re going to immediately advertise for three new jobs.

“That’s obviously going to have a direct positive and immediate financial impact on the local economy, and given the jobless rate in our region that’s nothing but a win.”

At the meeting, Cr Shanks said council’s initial opposition to Mr McGee’s proposal was seen by many people in Gawler as “anti-business”, and that “righting the terrible wrong” was the common sense decision.

“This item has, from the get-go, as we know, been overcomplicated on so many levels,” he said.

“There is nobody around this table that doesn’t want the best for Damian and businesses in Gawler.

“I have been consistent with my beliefs on this matter, this is not due to stubbornness – this is due to a logical alternate not being offered, and therefore my beliefs have not swayed.”

Before casting their vote, councillors heard from Member for Light Tony Piccolo, who reassured them that accepting a figure below the maximum gazetted rate would not contradict Gawler’s  current car parking policy.

Only three councillors voted against the motion, including Cr Paul Koch who – echoing comments from chief executive Henry Inat – cautioned that reversing the July decision could place the council in “jeopardy”, based on confidential legal advice that has been hidden from public viewing.