Food vans will not be permitted to trade on Mondays and Tuesdays at High Street and any food business within 200 metres must consent to their operations, under a new plan to be considered by the city council.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The draft interim model for the mobile food vans will be discussed at Monday’s strategic planning and policy committee meeting.
The suggested criteria for assessment of suitable trading locations will include a mandatory separation from residential areas of at least 100 metres, a CBD exclusion zone, pedestrian separation from moving traffic and a hard stand for vans to park on when frequent attendance occurs.
There must also be sufficient parking for vans or customers, relative to numbers of vans, congregating space for customers, waste management capacity and a level site.
A maximum of four food vans will be allowed to trade at High Street, with a one-monthly rotational ballot system for licensed vendors.
Operators will be charged an annual license of $2000 and a trading permit for four hours will cost $150, but the fee can only be issued to vendors twice per year.
This fee is to help cover the cost of providing irrigation at St Georges Square on the eastern side, estimated at $15,000, as well as additional waste management services.
RELATED STORIES:
The City of Launceston began investigating issues associated with the food van operations at St Georges Square in an effort to maximise public safety.
Temporary measures were put in place at ‘Eat Street’ in March, which included a speed limit reduction during trading hours and a limit of five food vans on site.
The interim measures were put in place to give the council time to develop a more comprehensive strategy.
“A number of workshops have been held with aldermen exploring criteria for assessment of suitable trading locations, alternative sites including Royal Park, governance arrangements and feedback from a variety of stakeholders,” the meeting agenda said.
“It is recognised that a there are a number of locations within the central area of Launceston which may provide a future venue for mobile food van trading.
“Such locations include North Bank, the Inveresk precinct and Civic Square - all of which will be subject to development in the near future.”
If adopted, the new policy would be an interim model while the investigation of a more permanent solution would occur during the next 12 months.
To reduce the risk at High Street a 40km/hour speed limit will be implemented and a pedestrian crossing at the Ann Street end of St Georges Square will be installed.