They’re responsible for attracting nearly 20,000 people to Crown Street Mall each week, but Wollongong’s popular Thursday night Eat Street and Friday produce markets could be in for a shake-up under new council plans.
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Wollongong City Council is calling for operators to put forward their case for running the popular weekly markets, opening up the licence agreements to public quotations.
It will also introduce strict new rules – and higher prices – for the market operators, in an effort to bring in more local produce and maintain “the long-term vitality” of the markets.
The proposed new licence for the Thursday night markets – held since January 2015 on a “trial” basis by the operators of the Foragers franchise – would cost at least $610 each week.
The markets would also need to have a minimum of 25 and a maximum of 40 weekly stalls which are ”limited to hot and cold food items that are authentic, culturally diverse and present a vibrant mix of street food in the style of international night food markets”
No hot coffee, tea, canned or bottled drinks are allowed to be sold unless they have been approved by the council, and stallholders must only sell items they have grown, made or manufactured themselves. Additionally, stalls must not offer products similar to those available within mall.
The market operators will need to report to the council four times a year, showing that at least 90 per cent of stalls are “local”, and at least 30 per cent are considered start-up operators or home-based businesses
The Friday produce market licence, which has just expired after being held since 2002, would cost $440 for each day the market is held.
The Friday market operator must ensure there are at least 50 and no more than 80 stalls each day, and – like the night markets – must adhere to rules about local produce.
Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said the new prices had been set based on direct and indirect costs being incurred from the markets.
“The revitalisation of the Crown Street Mall and the growing popularity of the markets meant it was important the fees and charges for the city centre markets aligned with comparable market environments and community expectations,” he said.
He said the open licence process would “provide a fair and transparent process to ensure quality markets with a focus on local providers moving forward”.
“Since the introduction of the Friday Produce and Creative Markets and the Thursday Night Food Markets, we have seen more people visiting our city centre, both from within and outside our local government area,” he said.
Update:
Wollongong City Council has sought to clarify information it provided in a media release about the Friday produce markets, following a request from the market operators.
A council spokeswoman said:
“We request that this original statement be clarified to say: “The Produce and Creative Markets have been operating since 2002 under a licence agreement with various entities – being Wollongong City Centre Limited and Wollongong City Council”.
“The various entities refer to the licensing bodies, not the market organisers.”