Victoria Stone-Meadows

The lease on the Council-owned Thornton Beach Café, between Cape Tribulation and Cow Bay, is up for tender.

The 10-year lease covers the beachfront café, which contains 1,328 square meters of operating space and has a one-bedroom unit attached.

The existing lease of the café has expired and the current Permittee occupies the premises under a periodic tenancy.

It is anticipated the new lease will commence in January 2020.

The Café is currently operating as CJ’s Bar and Grill and proprietor, Cecil Edwards, said he is hoping he can stay on at the idyllic location. 

“I’ll be going for the tender, I’ve been here for four and half years and would like to stay here,” he said.

“I like the environment and the beauty of the place; I came here for that reason.

“The customers are also really great, you meet a great group of people working here.”

Local governments are required by law to follow a public tender process at the beginning and end of leases on Council assets.

Mr Edwards said he understands the legal requirements of the process and will apply to win the tender along with other interested parties.

“It’s a legal requirement that has to happen; it has got be done that way,” he said. 

Douglas Shire Council Mayor, Julia Leu, said the new lease was a fantastic opportunity in a beautiful location.

“A chance to run a café between the Daintree Rainforest and the Great Barrier Reef doesn’t get much better than this,” she said.

“This is a really exciting opportunity to make this little gem your own and live amongst a World Heritage-listed tropical paradise.

“Council also requires the winning tenderer to employ locals, which is a big plus for the local community.”

A mandatory site visit for prospective tenders is scheduled for 12.00 pm on Friday, 4 October with tenders closing on Wednesday, 23 October.

Visit LG Tender Box for more information about the leasing opportunity.