The café, overlooking the River Torrens, is set to be upgraded, with the front outdoor dining area to be demolished “for open space uses”.

The council will tonight consider a State Government request for permission to expand the area of the proposed construction with an encroachment onto parklands of several square metres – to the edge of the footpath that runs in front of the café.

Operators of the café announced on its website that the café had been closed last week after 12 years in their hands.

The current management of the café will apply – in competition with other prospective operators – to lease the café once the upgrades are complete.

“It is with regret that as from 3pm on the 29th of May, Elder Park Café will be closed,” the operators said in the statement.

“I and the team that is Elder Park Café thank you for your support of the café over the past 12 years.

“Construction on new premises will begin not too long after closure.

“I will apply, along with many others, to lease the café once construction has finished.”

The expanded construction area on the northern side is designed to better integrate the Festival Centre and upgraded plaza with the riverbank, and “facilitate the ongoing management of the paths associated with the Festival Centre”.

The State Government announced last month that early works on the Festival Plaza upgrade would go out to tender.