DISABLED rights champion Joshua Poole will continue to operate his popular Haigslea café Coffee By Josh after facing several enforcement notices from Ipswich City Council threatening to shut his business down.
Mr Poole won accolades from the community when he set up his own business operating a coffee van from the family property at Claus Rd in 2017, talking about the ability in his disability.
The popularity of the café was fuelled by Mr Poole’s infectious optimism and drive which saw him build up a loyal following of more than 20,000 Facebook followers and a legion of regular customers.
Council however has slapped a series of non-compliance orders on the business since 2021 after the property was identified as operating a café without planning and building approvals.
The first notice was issued on March 2021 and Council was advised the day-to-day operation of the café was amended to operate within the bounds of an exempt home based business and the Poole family was applying for building approval.
A further enforcement notice was issued by Council on April 13 last year following inspections in June and July of 2022 and March and April of 2023 which Council said confirmed that the operation of the café was not being undertaken in accordance with the criteria to operate as a Home Based Business.
The family lodged a development application in response to the Enforcement Notice in May last year proposing changes to the structures on the site and seeking approval for a change of use to the property to Business Use.
The proposal detailed removal of the two shipping containers and awning on the site which the café operates from and construction of a new 12m x 12m shed with a 6m x 12m awning at the western extent of the 25ha property.
The existing coffee van would also be located on the concrete pad underneath the awning in a location further back from the road boundary and customer seating in the remaining covered area.
The proposed shed is to be used as a gift shop.
The proposal attracted 29 submissions objecting to the impact on the rural amenity, “visual clutter” on Claus Road from marketing signage, dust and traffic congestion on Claus Rd and generation of noise and litter.
Council considered the application at the recent Growth Infrastructure and Waste Committee and voted unanimously to approve the application.
