Perth Voice Interactive

FOOD VAN permits in Bayswater are nearly double those of neighbouring Vincent.

Cool Breeze Cafe co-owner Georgia Johnson says the high cost is contributing to a low take-up of the business model.

Bayswater’s food van permits, introduced in September, cost a cool $1500 per year. In Vincent they’re $619 for selling “pre-wrapped” food like pies and $858 for fast food prepared in-van. Swan’s permits cost $1146 and Perth $380.60 for four months (the capital is trialling vans across 15 locations).

Just two vendors have signed up for Bayswater—Annie’s Wood Fired Pizza in Bardon Park and a van that will sell coffee and biscuits at Wright Park.

Ms Johnson says Cool Breeze Cafe has been trading at Riverside Gardens car park for more than a year and had to apply for a mobile food vehicle permit when the new local law was introduced.

“I don’t mind paying the fee because the council have been very supportive and provide a lots of services for us, including rubbish collection,” she says.

“But the fee is high and people have said to me that it is a disincentive to setting up a van in the city.

“I also feel that some of the regulations of the permit could be more flexible, for example that all signage has to be affixed to the vehicle.”

Annie’s Pizza owner Ian Gibson says his van has ceased trading till April because of family health reasons and upgrades to Bardon Park.

Business has been relatively slow since opening, with Mr Gibson pushing for the park’s playground facilities to be upgraded to attract more families.

Mayor Sylvan Albert says food vans will be positioned in under-utilised public spaces where they won’t compete with existing food outlets.

“The fee covers the permit to operate in the specified location for the specified period,” he says.

“The clustering of mobile food activities will promote a more diversified array of unique food products and community interaction.”

Bayswater also offers a six-month ($850) and three-month ($500) option.

by STEPHEN POLLOCK