Roadside food vendors on the Cassowary Coast will have their permits extended until mid-2019 to ensure there is adequate time for new clear cut guidelines to be put in place.
The Cassowary Coast Regional Council (CCRC) stopped taking new permanent applications for roadside vending when the guidelines were introduced to Council earlier this year. At that time all existing vendors were given extensions to their permits until December 31, 2018, however permits will be extended to the June 30, 2019 to allow the guidelines to be put in place.
Cassowary Coast Deputy Mayor Wayne Kimberley said Council receives a number of new applications per month and is currently undergoing internal workshops to ensure the new guidelines fit the need of the community.
“Roadside vendors currently pay $450 per vehicle, per site, per annum with no cap on the number of sites across the Cassowary Coast,” said Cr Kimberley.
“So you can understand we have had quite a few shop owners, especially in the Cardwell area, disgruntled about the amount of vendors allowed in one area.”
Councillor Kimberley said Council is looking at it with a more strategic view to make a consistent guideline and policy across the board.
“The new guidelines will be able to provide consistency across the region for all roadside vendors and will also provide security of tenure,” said Cr Kimberley.
To date the new policy has not been finalised, however the draft policy does not apply to farm fruit grown on and/or sold on the property.
