Dixon Park beach could be weeks away from having a kiosk with City of Newcastle naming a proposed lessee to occupy the old surf club shed it recently converted.
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The council sought interested parties to lease, fit-out and operate the site in August, attracting 14 tenders.
It will on Saturday announce Sunnyboy Kiosk Pty Ltd as the proposed lessee, a company whose directors are understood to be linked with the ownership of Snows Patisserie & Bakers, The Hood Milk Bar and the Good Friends cafe in The Junction, and Morning Market Coffee in Whitebridge. The businesses could not be reached for comment before the time of publication on Friday.
The five-year lease, which has an option for an extra five years, will be publicly exhibited for a period of 28 days from today. Consideration will be given to submissions before a lease agreement is enacted, the council said.
Should it proceed, the kiosk is expected to be operational by mid-December.
Councillor Carol Duncan expects the site to become a popular stop for locals and visitors, saying the building works, which included the construction of a new pavilion and renewal of a mural of surf icon Mark Richards, had "brought the space to life".
"[It] has transformed the building into a space which will become a vibrant hive of activity once operational," she said. "With such a stunning backdrop, I have no doubt that the kiosk will become a regular haunt for coffee lovers and a place for people to stop and enjoy our magnificent coastline."
Income from the lease, a figure not yet public, will be reinvested into maintaining, upgrading and improving coastal areas and assets.
"Newcastle's beaches are world-renowned, and City of Newcastle is committed to ensuring these incredible natural assets remain accessible to our community and have the amenities required for a positive visitor experience," lord mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
