At last night’s 26 October Meeting, Council adopted its Mobile Traders Policy (the Policy) following public consultation earlier in the year.
The Policy provides a framework for how Council will consider requests for mobile trading, while balancing the needs of bricks and mortar businesses. It provides clear and concise requirements for applying, issuing or refusing a permit for mobile traders to operate on Council owned or managed land, and does not apply to those trading on private property with consent from the landowner, or for a vendor that is part of an event.
Community members and business operators were able to provide feedback on the Draft Policy through a community survey from 1 to 29 June 2021. Council received 42 individual submission, with 81% identifying as local residents, 9.5% as mobile traders and a further 9.5% as business owners. The feedback found:
- 71.4% wanted to provide residents in isolated areas with different food and services;
- 83.3% did not want to increase competition for existing bricks and mortar stores; and
- 69.0% believed Council should direct mobile traders to a specific location and not allow them to trade freely.
Only 4.8% of respondents did not want to allow mobile traders to operate in Golden Plains Shire. Community members also shared their thoughts on the fee structure for mobile traders, and Council will use this feedback when setting fees and charges each year.
In response to the feedback, the Policy was updated to include specific areas where mobile traders can operate on Council-owned land, provided that the trader is not in direct competition with any bricks and mortar business open at the same time within 1 kilometre in Bannockburn or Smythesdale or 5 kilometres in any other area of Golden Plains Shire. Permits will not be granted to traders selling similar products at the same time and day of other physical businesses in these areas. Other changes made to the Draft Policy included inserting statements on the benefits mobile trading can bring and providing access to isolated residents.
Mayor Cr Helena Kirby says Council appreciated the community input, which strengthened the Draft Policy.
“The Mobile Traders Policy is all about how Council will consider requests from traders, while importantly balancing the needs of bricks and mortar businesses.
“In June, we heard some valuable feedback on the Draft Policy from residents, mobile traders and business owners, and following making some sensible changes to reflect this feedback, Council was pleased to adopt the finalised policy this week.
“Over the years, Council has received multiple requests from mobile traders to operate, and this new policy now gives a clear framework to mobile traders, businesses and the community on how, when and where mobile trading can occur on Council owned or managed land in Golden Plains Shire.”
A local businessowner, Mayor Cr Helena Kirby declared a conflict of interest on this matter at the 26 October Meeting. The adopted Mobile Traders Policy is now available on Council’s Have Your Say page or on request at Council’s Customer Service Centres in Bannockburn and Smythesdale.