Coffee train: Collie’s Wagon kiosk to keep grinding on after new five-year lease signed

Coffee lovers in Collie can breather a sigh of relief after the local council dismissed an objection which would have shut down a popular cafe in the town centre.

Despite serious concerns being raised about the Wagon kiosk, which operates from a heritage rail carriage in Central Park, the owners signed a new five-year lease with the Shire council.

The Collie Rail Heritage Group Inc had lodged an objection to the application of Wagon owners Emma Spencer and Rachael Harms to renew their lease at their Central Park location.

In a letter to council the association said the new lease would “adversely affect” the organisation.

“Our group owns the kiosk, the structure which has been ‘on loan’ to Ms Harms and Ms Spencer since 2016,” the letter reads.

“We provided the wagon and installed the sleepers and rail on which it stands.”

The group alleges in their letter that Ms Harms and Ms Spencer breached a memorandum of understanding by painting the wagon and modifying its interior.

But the council voted to dismiss these objections, saying it was outside the scope of their powers.

“Arrangements between the owner of the railway carriage and the lessees are outside the scope of the lease consideration,” a council report on the decision reads.

“The proposed lessees have invested in establishing a new business that now provides a valuable service to the community, and should be allowed to continue that business.”