Last year the Council resolved to contract a Growers Market for Fitzroy Gardens in Kings Cross. Nearly a year later and still no sign of this exciting community service and activity every second weekend in Kings Cross. With the most densely populated square kilometere in Australia the 2011 Kings Cross, Elizabeth Bay and Potts Point residents would flock to a regular opportunity to not only purchase very fresh farm produce but also the regular cahnce to get out and about in the community spirit of the day. Rather than competition to existing local businesses the existing markets across the city have shown that they stimulate retail activity in their location.
I understand that the markets have been delayed by Council's DA assessment and some onerous conditions placed on the operator such as crowd control barricades, additional port-a-loos and prohibition of vehicles entering the park(which is paved) for the operators to set up. These are now being formally appealed and I support a more common sense approach to the application so we can start to enjoy the produce and atmosphere pictured here at the North Sydney Council Growers Markets. The delays with the Kings Cross Growers markets is yet again another example of the Council dragging its feet on follow up support for Kings Cross after the streetscape upgrade. The markets should be operating already!
I should also add that I successfully amended the approval at Council to include a report on the markets operations after six months coming back to Council with the intention to introduce a Growers Markets at Taylor Square, Oxford Street on the alternate weekends. The benefits to Oxford Street and the activation of the desolate Taylor Square will be dramatic.
17 comments:
Thanks Stephen
You are right about the long and unnecessary delay in this project. The sooner we can enjoy the fresh produce and more importantly the wonderful sense of community as found in other markets - the better. I am annoyed because Council has moved its attention away from the Cross and onto Oxford Street. You can't just fix up the footpaths and not follow through with enthusiasm for other projects like the markets and the restoration of the Kings Cross Hotel. Shayne
There is almost no support for these so-called "growers' markets". They are run by profiteers not growers.
So why are our rates being used to subsidise private commercial profits?
And where has Shayne Mallard's precious free market global economy theorem gone now?
Or is he hoping to say next August, a month before the Council elections, "Look what I've done for local business!"
Well, he will have ruined them, that's what he'll have done
Do you think Coles, Woolworths or the other fruit shops on Macleay Street will welcome more than 30 stalls in direct competition with them while the stall holders get council subsidies and they still have to pay rates? I don't think so.
So much for Clr Mallard's "Free market" approach!
Jake
Michael Gormley has a lot of aliases!
NO - the markets should not be "operating already".
If the KX Business partnership wants to lodge appeals about a DAl then they can only expect delays.
They should go with council's conditions and respect the community's legitimate expectations.
Sheelagh - local resident living opposite
Ive seen the Bondi Junction markets and they are woeful- nobody likes them.
The Growers markets are only occuring in Fitzroy garden one day a fortnight. Thats only about 3% of the time. I put it to you that more people from our community will visit Fitzroy gardens in that 3% than the entire remaining 97%. Parks are more than street drinkers and ibis. I challenge those knocking this great idea to set up a stall when the markets open with a sign and peition calling for their closure. Shayne
James(is that your real name?), thanks for your virtual anonymous flaming of my blog site - not. let us know your one so we can enjoy your intellectual brilliance and courage for open debate.
All donations to my campaigns are disclosed per the laws of Australia and policies of Council. I sincerely thank those who support my campaigns because without them (and its the same for Greens or Clover Moore - dont duck that one) we could not get our message out in the campaign. SM
All donations to my campaigns are disclosed per the laws of Australia and policies of Council. If you have such a concern about one Coucnillor then you would be aware that I have been an vocal advocate at Council, within the party and at the NSW Local Government Association that all donations to campaigns in local government be restricted to induviduals only and capped at $2,000 per annum. Check out the Greens donations return where many induviduals have donated ten of thousands of dollars. Where did this money come from - not disclosed? Until all parties and candidates agree to this policy it will not work. SM
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