The former operator of Wollongong's Eat Street and Friday Forage markets say it's "unsettling" Wollongong City Council chose to change the management "for the sake of it".
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As of December 9, Blue Sky Markets (based in Bondi Junction) will operate the popular weekly events after winning a tender which involved providing referees to council and responding to six criteria, such as "strengthening of local economic capacity", which were assessed by a panel.
The tender follows the expiry of the previous Hire Agreement with the Foragers Group and part of "due process", a council spokeswoman said.
"I would have thought a smooth transition out of lockdown would have been a more measured approach," said Kirrily Sinclair of Foragers.
Ms Sinclair founded the Eat Street foodie market on Thursday nights, and later won the tender to operate the Friday produce markets in 2016 which also drew a lot of criticism.
She said at the time she felt "uneasy" and "uncomfortable" about taking over from Jenny Briscoe-Hough and Lara Seresin who had run the produce market for 14 years, and signalled now an unfair hand had been dealt to her also.
"Whether or not the markets should go out to tender is the real question," Ms Sinclair said.
"Now it's to be run by a Sydney man with 10 other markets under his belt ... it's obviously disappointing."
Meantime, Ms Sinclair said the Foragers Group would continue to operate a market in Bulli, including a twilight Christmas Market on December 19.
A council spokeswoman said each tender was assessed on their merit, including on the delivery of similar market operations.
In recent years the operation of the markets has come under scrutiny from the community as noted in Community Forum meetings, and through complaints made to council which were sighted by the Mercury through a Freedom of Information request.
Complaints were made over dwindling numbers of stalls and dwindling numbers of patrons attending, the way stallholders were being treated, and community safety.
Incoming operator Blue Sky said in the first few months they would be undertake a review of both markets to see where improvements could be made as well as add more food.
Tapping into local networks to expand the variety of products that are grown, made and designed locally is our first priority," they said in a statement.
"During these recent lockdowns, people have been tinkering in their workshops, experimenting in their kitchens and designing patterns on bedroom floors. We are excited to welcome their new ideas."
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