Dunsborough business owners Ken and Fi Norrish were forced to stop trading their food truck business Comet Kitchen after the City of Busselton implemented its new mobile food vendors policy.
Earlier this year, food truck operators were required to apply for a new permit from the city which restricted the number of operators trading at a particular location and extended their trading terms to an eight hour block rather than shorter hours at various locations.
The permit fee was raised from around $900 up to $3000 for some sites.
The process to apply for a permit also meant food truck operators had to compete against each other with businesses missing out on securing a permit to operate their vans.
Mr and Ms Norrish missed out on a permit and were forced to stop trading after two years in the business.
Mr Norrish said they had invested their life savings to import a food van from the US and custom fit it with a commercial kitchen.
Mr Norrish said the expression of interest process, guidelines and threats that traders would be removed from the process if they sought consultation with councillors had created an air of fear among traders.
He said one trader per position with long trading hours would not work and went against everything that food vans were about.
“Providing an interesting alternative, when and where it is needed,” he said.
“A coffee van works in the morning and a food van works in the afternoon.”
Mr Norrish said they had operated their food truck alternating days between Old Dunsborough, Yallingup and other vendors.
He said the Yallingup permit went to a coffee van which services the area in the morning, and without Comet Kitchen there would be nothing available to eat at the beach after 2pm.
“We have lost our trading because we thought it was wrong to take away trading from long term traders, so we did not compete for Yallingup,” he said.
“We went for the Old Dunsborough position only, where two food vans were going to be allowed, according to the city’s policy statement.”
Mr Norrish said a more logical approach from the city would be allowing two or three trading blocks throughout the day.
He would like to see the city abandon its new policy and return to a fairer policy based on public demand.
City of Busselton manager of environmental services Tanya Gillett said the new policy would remain for at least two years when the expression of interest process would recommence.
Ms Gillett said any changes to the policy would be incorporated at that time.
She said the city recently reviewed the administration of all commercial activities operating on public land and looked at ways to facilitate greater operating flexibility and a better spread of specialised goods at a number of strategically determined locations.
“In relation to mobile food vendors, the city currently has 44 mobile food vans registered within the district, all jostling for popular locations from which to trade,” she said.
“Feedback had been received from mobile food vendors and fixed businesses that the original governing structure administering the operation of the vans was unfair, too restrictive and anti-competitive.
“The new policy has introduced a competitive expression of interest process that addresses these issues and provides improved business certainty to successful mobile vendors operating at identified locations with limited restriction.”
Ms Gillett said the higher rates to operate a mobile food van in the city addressed the real costs to the city including the upkeep of parks, gardens, roads, car parks, waste disposal and ablution facilities.
She said the city always had restrictions on where and when food vendors could operate and with the increase of vans registered over the last five years.
“The new policy provided restrictions required to ensure that only strategically desirable locations were utilised for these businesses while being mindful of the needs of all parties including the neighbouring residents, food vendors, fixed business and the local community,” she said
“Mobile food vendors have in the past advised the city that having a maximum trading period of four hours restricted the development and earning capacity of their business.
“The operators preferred the certainty of being able to trade without restrictive short time frames at single locations rather than having to move around, this has been made possible within the new policy.”
Margaret River and Busselton Tourism Association chief executive officer Steve Harrison said the food truck trend which started a few years ago had been embraced by people and was a welcome addition to the diversity of dining options.
“Mobile food vendors often add value to the holiday experience by offering casual dining against the backdrops of some of the region’s most scenic spots, such as Meelup Beach, Old Dunsborough Boat Ramp and Surfers Point,” he said.
Have your say: Do you think the new policy is fair? Email editorial.bdmail@fairfaxmedia.com.au.
