A rogue mobile coffee business has been operating illegally from a Mount Ousley truck stop, despite warnings from authorities.
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Mipsy's food and beverage trailer set up shop at Mount Ousley's northbound truck stop in April without approval from council or Roads and Maritime Services, which manages the land.
Last week they were still poaching customers from a legitimate coffee business at the site, despite warnings from RMS and police.
RMS had asked operators to remove the trailer from the truck stop as recently as April 30, but they continued trading last week.
"Roads and Maritime Services considered [the] coffee vendor ... was creating a road safety hazard by obstructing entry into and use of the rest area," a spokeswoman said.
"Roads and Maritime issued several directions to the vendor to remove the obstruction, finally requesting the help of NSW Police, who also spoke to the vendor."
Owner of the legitimate mobile coffee business, Joanne Vercoe, and her late husband Michael, fought authorities for the chance to operate a van on Mount Ousley to give truck drivers a break from their hard road schedules.
Through Mr Vercoe's persistence and support from truck drivers, the then Roads and Traffic Authority gave him approval to operate MV's coffee van, which then became an important stopping point on truck drivers' journeys.
Wollongong City Council records show that only one mobile food van business, MV Pty Ltd, has activity approval to operate near the northbound truck stop atop Mount Ousley.
"The mobile food van operating as Mipsy's has not applied to council for an activity application," a council spokesman said.
"They have received a warning and letter from the RMS about operating in this vicinity without prior approval."