Newcastle council has lodged $1.5 million plans to upgrade the Lambton Park tea rooms to make way for a new lease and operator.
City of Newcastle announced in February the Lambton Park cafe building would revamped into an open plan cafe with bi-fold doors onto a new rear deck extension, which would provide ramp access for parents with prams and people with mobility issues.
A development application for the project was lodged on August 28 which includes adding a male and female toilet, an extension of the food preparation area and dining area to accommodate a new kitchen, dry store, cool room and freezer and adding moveable seating in the central dining area and on the verandahs.
This café is next to the park's playground and the new rear deck will allow parents to sit while watching their children play on the equipment.
The proposal also seeks consent for an extension of the operating hours to 7am until 10pm, seven days per week.
The space will cater for up to 100 guests and the project has been designed to accommodate about 10 staff.
The proposal will facilitate the awarding of a new lease and operation as a food and drink premises to enable fit-out by a yet-to-be confirmed operator.
The building was constructed in the 1940s as a baby health centre. The park itself is listed as a local heritage Item, but the building is not heritage-listed.
Newcastle council won approval in 2023 for a subdivision to separate Lambton Swim Centre and Lambton Park into separate lots.
The council said the subdivision would allow for improved planning of the sites, without affecting the operation of the Lambton Swim Centre.
"The subdivision makes clearer the intent of the two lots and will thus improve applications for grant funding to the state and federal governments," the council said in March 2023.
