Nimbin’s Tuntable Falls Community are ‘over the rainbow’ now that Lismore City Council has approved their plan to redevelop the former cafe site in Nimbin’s main street.
The iconic Rainbow Cafe was destroyed by fire in August 2014, along with the neighbouring Nimbin Museum and the Bringabong shop.
And while the Lismore City Council were hoping for a joint planning proposal for the two sites, plans have yet to be finalised for the museum site.
As a result, the Tuntable Falls Community, with the blessing of the council, submitted a development application to construct the new cafe with seating for around 50 people, as well as a small detached dwelling, landscaping, fencing and associated infrastructure.
Two existing buildings will be demolished to make way for the new development.
Tuntable Falls Cooperative spokesperson Megan James said the community was ‘extremely happy’ that the council had approved the DA.
‘We are hoping to have the cafe operating by next year … early 2018,’ she said.
‘We have an excellent project manager in Alex Folder and will be calling for tenders very soon.’
Ms James said the proposed cost of the new development would be about $650,00, with half being covered by an insurance payout.
The development will include the creation of a mural on the building’s façade to ensure the new Rainbow Café complements the existing Nimbin streetscape and the village’s famous heritage murals.
Ms James said agreements had been reached with the new owners of the neighbouring museum site to allow for more open space at the back of the blocks, and access between the two sites via Rainbow Lane.
