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Background and Permit Conditions

Since August 2024, a mobile food caravan, Patagonia Northern Beaches, has been operating from the public car park at Long Reef Headland in Collaroy, providing takeaway food and beverages. The business was approved under a one-year agreement issued by the NBC. In June 2025, Xavier Ambrosio, the owner, was instructed to remove seating and small tables after a single public complaint claimed the furniture posed a safety hazard.

Officials confirmed that permission for such furniture had not been included in the existing permit. Although the owner had paid over $6000 for a parking permit, they had not paid any outdoor dining levy.

New Compliance Measures Introduced

Ahead of the permit’s renewal, Mr Ambrosio received updated terms and conditions from the NBC. These include a requirement to remove the caravan from the site every evening, a ban on amplified or live music, a restriction against connecting to public water sources, and a prohibition on providing any form of seating or shelter such as tables, chairs, or umbrellas.

Additional conditions state that customers must not queue, loiter, or sit in the car park. The updated enforcement follows reports of noncompliance issues with other mobile vendors as part of the NBC’s broader management of open public spaces.

Community Response and Business Impact

Despite the clampdown, community support for the caravan has been strong. A petition gathered over 600 signatures requesting that the owner be allowed to provide seating. The business reportedly serves up to 300 coffees on weekends and has become a regular stop for both locals and visitors.

Mr Ambrosio has offered to pay the necessary outdoor dining fees and submitted a request to NBC seeking approval for limited seating next to the van. A meeting with NBC is scheduled to discuss the matter further.

Uncertain Future for Mobile Vendor

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Mr Ambrosio has stated that if the new terms are enforced in full, the operation may close. However, he remains open to working with NBC to find a solution. For now, the outcome depends on ongoing discussions and whether a compromise can be reached that aligns with community use of the Collaroy space.

Published 24-July-2025

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