CBD Dining Platform Program

Your business will need to be located within the eligibility area outlined below to be eligible for a dining platform. You'll also need to demonstrate your ability to maintain the platform and utilise it in a way which is beneficial to the atmosphere of Rockhampton's CBD.

In registering your interest to host a platform, you'll need to propose a location adjacent to your business which allows safe public use and is located in an area with high pedestrian traffic.

While the platforms have primarily been used by food and beverage providers in the past, we are open to new ideas which meet the criteria above. If you are planning on serving food and drinks, an approved footpath dining permit will be required.

All businesses hosting a dining platform require public liability insurance.

Dining Platform Eligibility Area

Each dining platform takes up one parking space and can be used to increase seating spaces for customers, to create a relaxing environment outside your business, for cultural activations, or any regular use which fosters a vibrant and thriving CBD.

Lease agreements for the platforms last for either 12 or 24 months. During that time, you'll need to ensure the platform remains clean, safe and in good condition. If the platform is damaged or requires maintenance, you'll need to inform Council as soon as possible.

While we encourage you to be creative when considering how you'll use the platform, keep in mind structural alterations and the additional of signage are not permitted.

At the end of your lease period you may be offered the chance to renew your lease, otherwise you'll need to return the platform in the same condition it was delivered.

A full list of terms and conditions is included in the hire agreement documents.

Council currently charges a 12-month lease fee of $1,350 (inc GST) which is reviewed annually to factor in inflation.

As a lessee, you will be expected to keep the platform clean, safe and in good repair and will need to allow for costs associated with its upkeep.

Advance Rockhampton conducted a three week public survey to gauge community sentiment around the CBD Dining Platforms. 

The survey found:

• 92.22% of respondents believe the dining platforms have a positive impact on the CBD
• 73.1% of respondents believe the dining platforms provide more value than the parking spaces they occupy
• Almost 1 in 5 respondents use a dining platform at least once a month