The simple pleasure of hot chips after a swim or a game of basketball is at the heart of a community campaign in Western Australia's Shire of Harvey. Residents have rallied together, presenting a formal petition to local council, in a bid to save a beloved cafe tradition.
Community Petition Garners Strong Support
Brunswick resident Jamay Sullivan took the community's fight directly to the Shire of Harvey council during its ordinary meeting last week. She presented a petition bearing 650 signatures from locals dismayed by the decision to close the cafe at the Leschenault Leisure Centre (LLC).
"I've personally spoken to over 400 people and everyone's quite upset that they won't be able to have their hot chips after their swim or basketball," Ms Sullivan told the council. She emphasised that the venue was more than just a food outlet; it was a hub that built relationships and family traditions for the Harvey community.
Council Cites Financial Loss and Upgrade Costs
In response to questions about why the shire wouldn't lease the cafe to a third party, Communities and Lifestyle Director Suzie Haslehurst explained the facility required significant investment. "At the moment, significant investment would be needed to be able to bring it up to a standard where we could outsource it," she stated.
Ms Haslehurst revealed that outsourcing options had been explored before but proved unsuccessful. A key challenge was the cafe's location within the leisure centre, meaning an external operator would have no pass-by traffic to rely on, limiting its customer base to centre users only. The shire had also tried unsuccessfully to hire a food and beverage supervisor in the past two years to help revive the business.
Fiscal Responsibility Versus Community Service
Shire President Michelle Campbell defended the closure decision, stating the council had to be "fiscally responsible." She confirmed the cafe had been making a significant loss and that ratepayers would not be happy subsidising it indefinitely.
"We've determined that the ratepayer would not be happy with the significant amount of loss that the cafe had been making," Cr Campbell said. However, she offered a glimmer of hope for the future, noting that planning for the expansion of the LLC might look to include a future cafe facility.
The shire is now exploring alternative food and beverage options for centre users. The cafe served its final hot chips and closed its doors for good on November 29, 2025.
