FAQs

Mobile food vendors are retail food businesses that sell food to the public and need to comply with a range of requirements. Mobile food vendors are those vehicles used for: on-site food preparation e.g. hamburgers, hot dogs and kebabs, one-step food preparation e.g. popcorn, fairy floss, coffee and squeezing juices or any type of food including pre-packaged food.

A food business is any business or activity that involves the sale of food or the handling of any type of food for sale in Australia, with the exception of some primary food production activities.

The Town of Victoria Park is developing a Mobile Food Vendor Policy to:

The draft policy will deal with a range of matters, including but not limited to the following: waste management, operating locations, times and hours of trade, noise, advertising, rostering/booking and other matters.

The Town’s Strategic Community Plan is the principal strategy outlining the long-term vision, values, aspirations and priorities for the Town of Victoria Park for the next 15 years. The policy will align with the plan by embracing the following outcomes.

• Attractive - We will attract people and businesses into our Town. Our Town will be the destination for lifestyle, work and recreation.

• Social - The outcome is to provide an environment where the community can live a safe, healthy and active life with opportunities to participate in socially diverse and culturally rich activities and exchanges.

• Economic - The outcome is to provide the community with a vibrant, strong and sustainable local economy as well as a range of business and employment opportunities.

• Events and Place Activation Strategy – Commercial Partnerships Strategic partnerships with local business and stakeholders- Businesses showcasing experiences, services and products to attract visitors and enhance the profile of Vic Park (activation of a variety of spaces).

A report prepared by Council Officers summarising the submissions received during the consultation period and recommending a number of changes to the draft policy was considered by the Town’s Future Planning Committee on 19 September 2018.

The major modifications recommended to the draft policy by Council Officers includes:

• Reduction in the number of mobile food vendors operating at any one time from 6 to 3 per designated trading area (excludes McCallum Park); and

• Removal of the following proposed trading locations:

  • Edward Millen Park;

  • Fraser Park;

  • J A Lee Reserve;

  • John Macmillan Park (note: this does not affect existing approved operations of TGIF markets at this site);

  • Raphael Park; and

  • Rayment Park.

The Future Planning Committee considered the report and proposed changes to the draft policy and resolved the following:

The Future Planning Committee recommends that Council:

1. Adopts the modified version of draft policy ‘HLTH6 Mobile Food Vendors (Vic Park Vendor’s) Policy’, as contained in Appendix 1, on a trial basis from 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019;

2. Waives application fees for submission of an application for a ‘Vic Park Vendor’s Permit’ for the duration of the policy trial (with all permits issued to expire upon conclusion of the trial);

3. Receives a further report reviewing the trial implementation of the draft policy by 30 June 2019 to determine whether it will formally adopt the draft policy, with or without modifications;

4. Advises all persons whom have lodged a submission on the draft policy, during the community consultation period, of its decision; and

5. During the trial period no temporary food business permits be approved for on street vending or itinerant food vendors.

The full report and proposed modified version of the draft policy can be accessed from the Minutes and Appendicesof the Future Planning Committee Meeting held on 19 September 2018 contained in the Document Library.

Council decision made at Ordinary Meeting held on 9th October 2018

The Draft Policy (as recommended to be further modified by Council Officers) was considered by the Council at its Ordinary Meeting of 9 October 2018 where it resolved to:

1. Defer the motion to adopt the modified version of draft policy ‘HLTH6 Mobile Food Vendors (Vic Park Vendor’s) Policy’ on a trial basis from 1 November 2018 to 31 March 2019;

2. Directs the Chief Executive Officer to convene a workshop with local business owners to consult with them about the Policy, and report the outcome of the workshop to the Future Planning Committee for consideration; and

3. Refer the draft HLTH6 Mobile Food Vendors (Vic Park Vendor’s) Policy (“the Policy”) back to the Future Planning Committee for further consideration after receiving a report on the outcome of the workshop.

The reasons provided for the above decision were as follows:

1. There is an opportunity for public consultation with local business in the Town regarding the Policy in light of concerns expressed by local businesses about the extent of public consultation;

2. The Future Planning Committee will have an opportunity to consider the outcome of the workshop as part of a further consideration of the Policy and any recommendation to Council; and

3. Council is able to make an informed decision.

Further details regarding the Council’s decision are available through the Minutes of the Ordinary Council Meeting available from the Document Library.

Stage 1: Preliminary engagement and policy research and development

• Research, information gathering, stakeholder liaison and community survey.

Stage 2: Policy development and preparation

• Report on and consider community survey submissions.

• Develop draft policy.

• Consideration of draft policy by Future Planning Committee.

Stage 3: Formal consultation on draft policy

• Three week formal community consultation period.

• Directly seek feedback/comments from all previously consulted parties and submitters.

• Publicly advertise for submissions from the community generally.

Stage 4: Consideration of formal submissions and policy adoption by Council

• Referral of draft policy and formal submission to Council meeting.

• Council to consider submissions received and determine whether to:

  • adopt the draft policy

  • adopt the draft policy with minor amendments

  • amend the policy and publicly re-advertise for further consideration

  • not progress the draft policy.

• Adoption of the policy may occur on a trial basis with its continued operation to be reviewed at a later date.

Stage 5: Policy promotion and implementation

• Distribute and communicate adopted policy to all stakeholders and submitters.

• Publicise adoption and make available on the Town's website.

• Promote and implement policy to interested stakeholders and participants internal and external to the Town.

Opportunities to be involved and share your thoughts will be invited during the community consultation stages of the project, with the Town actively engaging with the community and requesting direct feedback.  The opportunity to ask questions, obtain information on key dates or processes and register your interest will be available throughout the life of the project. Please stay informed by visiting this Your Thoughts page.