The amendment to allow the Port Kembla site to operate as a cafe is back on exhibition. Photo: Region.
A popular Port Kembla cafe which found itself in a long-running stoush with Wollongong City Council has had its door smashed by vandals only days after a call out to the community to help determine its future.
Council has asked for public feedback on a planning amendment which would allow Cakes by Rach to continue operating at the site. In the early hours of Wednesday (3 September) the business was vandalised, although nothing appeared to have been taken.
The cafe has been operating in an area zoned for residential only and despite the site having been used for some form of commercial operation for the past six decades, council deemed the current cafe was not permissible.
Owner Rachel Weekes was informed in 2022 that the business type was not allowed at the Military Road site and in 2024 was ordered to shut the doors.
But Rachel and her loyal customers fought back with a fierce campaign to keep the cafe open. Council ultimately suspended compliance and enforcement action to allow the property owner and business operator to explore planning approval pathways.
Earlier this year Rachel submitted a planning proposal request to allow the site’s permitted uses to include the operation of a restaurant or cafe.
Cakes by Rach was targeted after a proposal to determine its future was opened for public feedback. Photo: Cakes By Rach Cafe/Facebook.
The pitch received mixed views from the wider community during a preliminary exhibition period, with issues such as additional traffic and noise initially sparking complaints from neighbouring residents.
In June, councillors voted to progress the proposal to the NSW Planning, Housing and Infrastructure Department for a Gateway Determination, which was approved late last month.
Now the proposal is being formally exhibited until 26 September, with community members urged to, once again, have a say.
The proposal is for a site-specific planning amendment to the Wollongong Local Environment Plan, not a rezoning. If it is successful, Cakes By Rach would need to lodge a new development application for ongoing operations.
The feedback will inform another report for council which will then provide a resolution on how to proceed.
To give feedback or learn more about the proposal visit the Wollongong City Council engagement website.
Hard copies of the proposal are available at Wollongong and Warrawong libraries.
