Perth Voice Interactive

BAYSWATER city council is in danger of losing the Maylands Hawkers markets to a neighbouring council after putting off approval.

The market had completed a successful six-month trial next to The Rise but the council voted to put it on ice pending a traffic management report.

Exasperated organiser Catherine Ehrhardt says that leaves her no time to attract sponsors or ready the markets for a lucrative pre-Christmas.

Immediately following the vote she was approached by Swan city council. She has also organised a meeting with Vincent city council and has requested a sit-down with Stirling. “I need to keep my options open and have a back-up plan,” she says.

“I also want to look at expanding the markets in the future and operating on different days in different shires.

“I was really shocked the council brought up all these issues at the last minute; I did a deputation shortly before the meeting and none of these issues were broached at all.”

A Maylands Markets Facebook post on the decision reached 13,000 people and a petition calls on the council to approve the markets without a review.  Cr Martin Toldo has heeded the call, lodging a motion to rescind the decision to delay. That will go before the council next month.

Meanwhile, Mayor Sylvan Albert says several groups expressed concerns about parking: “We have to try and come-up with a long-term solution,” he says.

Maylands Park manager Dominic Cuscuna complained about people parking at his shopping centre when The Rise was busy, and requested a traffic report: “Why is the city proposing to subsidise the markets to the detriment of all of the small businesses at the shopping centre who pay more than $40,000 in rates and charges?”

by STEPHEN POLLOCK