Melbourne café owners claim roadworks have cost their business $100,000 in bureaucratic nightmare - 9News

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Shane Baker and Judith Phillips own the popular vegan café Soulfoods in the suburb of Officer, on the south-eastern outskirts of Melbourne, but they fear they might not have it for much longer.

The couple claim they have lost more than $100,000 since council roadworks blocked the main thoroughfare to their business, causing a dramatic drop in customers.

"It's been hard, it's been devastating, it's been a lot of tears, a lot of upset," Phillips told 9News.

Owners of the popular vegan café Soulfoods in Officer, Victoria fear they might not be able to keep it open for much longer. (Nine)

Access to the café's car park was shut off for more than three months at Tivendale Road, due to roadworks for a new turning lane, with Baker claiming revenue dropped by 50 per cent from the day the roadworks started.

"People physically couldn't get to us [and] everybody's busy and they don't want the hassle, so they've found somewhere else to go," he said.

While access has now reopened, Baker says works have stalled with machinery sitting idle outside the café, which hardly makes for an attractive setting for customers.

The couple claim roadworks have cut their business by half and lost them $100,000 since they began. (Nine)

Baker claims there's been a lack of communications from the local council, who, after he contacted them about the issues says he was told the works were being run by state body VicRoads.

VicRoads in turn bounced him back to Cardinia Shire Council.

While the bureaucratic bodies play tennis with the café owners' inquiries, they continue to lose money, claiming to have lost more than $100,000 since the debacle began.

The couple are already juggling two jobs just to keep the business afloat but fear they'll be forced to close up shop before the road works are finished next March.

"We've put our heart and soul into this. The café has been around a long time and it's quite well known in the area, so it would be absolutely crushing," Phillips said on the idea of closing the business.

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The family of five are also facing an uncertain Christmas.

"We've all got children and we can't even afford to give them a little gift," she said.

The couple say they want to be compensated by council for the loss of business.

Cardinia Shire Council said in a statement to 9News that it "has regularly communicated with local businesses to ensure they remained informed throughout construction.

"We have also reduced road closure times and kept the main entrance to the business hub open and accessible throughout the works."

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Melbourne café owners claim roadworks have cost their business $100,000 in bureaucratic nightmare - 9News
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