What’s Really Going On at Garema Place?
A Clear and Calm Explainer on the Via Dolce Structure Dispute
A local café has become the centre of a heated community conversation. Via Dolce’s outdoor dining structure in Garema Place is being relocated as part of a government-led upgrade and many Canberrans have questions.
The topic gained public attention after Mark Parton, Speaker of the ACT Legislative Assembly, shared a Facebook post criticising the removal. The post sparked strong community reaction, with concerns raised about fairness, transparency, and the future of local businesses.
But what’s really happening is more complex and more collaborative than some posts suggest.
Here’s what’s really happening, with the noise turned down and the facts turned up.
Why Is Garema Place Being Upgraded?
Garema Place is one of Canberra’s best-known public areas, often used for outdoor dining, events, and community gatherings. The government is investing in a full upgrade to improve footpaths, lighting, garden beds, and accessibility across the precinct.
The goal is to create a modern, pedestrian-friendly space that works better for both locals and visitors, particularly during events and peak times.
To complete this work, the area needs to be cleared of all temporary or semi-permanent dining structures that currently sit on public land.
How Outdoor Dining Permits Work
Cafés and restaurants in Canberra can apply for a permit that allows them to place tables, chairs, umbrellas, or other items on public footpaths. These permits do not grant ownership or permanent rights, they are temporary licences with specific conditions.
Key rules include:
Structures must be removable within 48 hours if the government requests it.
Removals must not require heavy machinery like jackhammers or forklifts.
The government can revoke or suspend permits at any time for maintenance or upgrades.
Non-compliance with the conditions can result in cancellation of the permit.
These rules are designed to ensure public land remains accessible, adaptable, and safe for everyone.
What Happened with Via Dolce?
Via Dolce installed an outdoor dining structure in 2023 after receiving formal design approval. The structure was designed to offer a sheltered, stylish dining space along the edge of Garema Place.
However, the approval came with clear conditions:
The structure had to be removable on short notice.
It could not include permanent utilities or fixed flooring.
It must be used in a way that complies with outdoor dining permit requirements.
As plans for the Garema Place upgrade progressed, government teams reviewed all structures within the works zone. Via Dolce’s structure was identified as being non-compliant because:
It included a built-in floor that wasn’t clearly approved in original documents.
It had electrical connections and a reverse-cycle air conditioning unit that were not listed.
It lacked evidence of proper stormwater drainage planning.
Under Canberra’s compliance rules, even one of these elements would be enough to consider the structure non-compliant. Together, they confirmed that the structure didn’t meet the standard of being “temporary and easily removable.”
Government Engagement with Businesses
Since early 2023, the government, led by the City Renewal Authority and supported by relevant departments, has contacted Via Dolce and other affected businesses more than 20 times. This includes emails, business visits, phone calls, letters, and invitations to planning workshops.
In January 2025, Via Dolce requested that construction near their business be delayed until after the summer period. The request was granted, and their section of the upgrade was moved to between April and June 2025.
Despite clear communications, Via Dolce initially questioned the removal directive, asking whether adjustments or rectifications could allow the structure to remain.
The Outcome: Relocation, Not Removal
What’s important to clarify now is that the structure is not being demolished or scrapped, it is being relocated.
In public comments and correspondence, Via Dolce has confirmed their intention to move the structure around the corner to nearby Bunda Street. The government is working closely with the business to support this relocation and ensure the move is as smooth as possible.
Minister for City Services Tara Cheyne confirmed this in a public update, stating:
“Via Dolce needs to move their newish gazebo as a result [of the upgrade]. They’ve made clear they intend to move this gazebo to Bunda Street. The ACT Government has been working hard to help them make the relocation of the structure as smooth as possible.”
A Challenging but Supported Transition
While the relocation is a positive outcome, it has not been without challenges. Moving a semi-permanent structure in a busy city centre requires careful coordination around traffic, access, safety, and compliance with new location guidelines.
Government teams have acknowledged the difficulty and confirmed that they are actively supporting the business through the process. This includes assistance with permits, staging of the move, and ensuring continuity of trade.
This clarification stands in contrast to earlier public commentary that suggested the structure was being removed without support or consideration.
What Is the Outdoor Dining Toolkit?
The government has introduced a new set of design guidelines known as the Outdoor Dining Toolkit. This guide outlines what kinds of furniture and structures will be supported in revitalised precincts like Garema Place.
Permitted items include:
Lightweight tables and chairs
Umbrellas or shade structures that do not require permanent fixings
Planter boxes, heaters, and low-level lighting, if portable and safe
Fixed or built-in structures, like gazebos with floors or permanent utilities, will not be permitted in Garema Place after the works are complete.
While this process has gone through community consultation, the outcry from the public that value the fixed and ideally warmer outdoor seating options in Canberra, particularly during winter, can’t be ignored. It would also be of interest to understand the financial impact for Via Dolce since the structure went up as it has become visibly busier.
Why we push back against rage bait
Mark Parton’s social media post prompted widespread discussion and concern, among members of the public. Many interpreted the post to mean that the government had ordered the demolition of the structure without consultation.
Tara Cheyne, in her own public post, criticised the post for being “hyper selective with facts” and not presenting the full story.
She warned that misrepresenting complex issues like this could discourage businesses from engaging with government in future, particularly when that engagement might be essential to their survival.
Her comments add important context to how public debate can sometimes miss the nuances behind large planning decisions.
But we also wonder how does years of community consultation zero down to a wildfire in a few hours? Can there be better ways of doing things that ensure the community feel part of and aware of decisions that affect us?
This situation highlights a broader issue: how we manage change in our city while keeping trust with local business owners and the community.
The government has a responsibility to maintain public land, deliver infrastructure upgrades, and ensure long-term safety and accessibility. Businesses, on the other hand, invest time, money, and care into creating places that people love.
When communication breaks down or when messages are misunderstood or politicised, everyone loses.
The good news? In this case, there is collaboration. A solution is being implemented. And a much-loved café will continue to serve its customers in a new, nearby location.
In Summary
Garema Place is being upgraded to create a safer, more vibrant city centre.
All outdoor dining structures in the area need to be removed or relocated during construction.
Via Dolce’s structure, approved in 2023, was later found to be non-compliant.
After initial resistance, the café is now working with the government to move the structure to Bunda Street.
The government has offered support throughout the transition.
New outdoor dining designs will be allowed after construction, but permanent structures will no longer be supported.
The public conversation continues and so does the café.
