The City of Ballarat is looking for expressions of interest from one or more operators to open cafes at Civic Hall, the Ballarat Library and the Eureka Centre.

According to the tender documents, council is offering tenancies at all three venues either individually, as a combination of any two or as a set.

All three cafes, whether they are operated together or separate, would operate completely independently of council.

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The Civic Hall cafe would be located on the western side of the site, in close proximity to two state government offices and the Ballarat CBD, and is planned to operate through the week during business hours and as part of the venues events and functions.

The 67-square metre site includes a kitchenette and servery with a 60-square metre outdoor dining area while tenants may also be able to use Civic Hall's commercial kitchen to provide catering services.

The Civic Hall cafe is the most expensive of the three, with council requesting $23,400 plus GST per in rent and about $3650 in rates.

Council hopes the Eureka Centre cafe could potentially become a gathering place for the Ballarat East community given its location at the Eureka Stockade Gardens and near a public pool and playground.

The Eureka Centre is the largest of the three potential cafes with indoor seating available for 55 patrons and undercover outdoor seating for another 30, both of which are able to be expanded.

It also has a large commercial kitchen which council said could be a food preparation hub to supply both the Civic Hall cafe and Ballarat Library coffee cart.

Despite its size, the Eureka Centre cafe is significantly cheaper with council requesting $14,300 plus GST in rent and about $2000 in rates.

While council requires the three cafes to be open from at least 10am to 5pm seven days a week, tender documents said a business model requiring a liquor licence and out of hours operating times for the Eureka Centre would be viewed favourably.

The Ballarat Library is the smallest of the three sites, with council hoping a small cafe or coffee cart to be part of its refurbishment works and operational once the ground floor is completed.

As the smallest of the venues, it would also be the least expensive, costing $3900 a year plus rates.

The tender closes at 12pm on Friday, September 10 and can be viewed at www.eprocure.com.au/ballarat.

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