Rockingham council approve ‘flexible’ new traders policy to help mobile, bricks and mortar businesses

Mobile food traders will be able to operate at nine sites across the City of Rockingham after it adopted an updated traders policy.

The council voted in favour of the updated policy at last Tuesday’s meeting, which will allow mobile food traders to apply for a permit at operate at sites that are expected to have minimal impact on nearby ‘bricks and mortar’ businesses.

The locations featured in the updated policy are Secret Harbour Foreshore, Malibu Road at Safety Bay Foreshore, Long Port in Port Kennedy, Francis Street at Waikiki Foreshore, Singleton foreshore, Shoalwater Reserve activity node, Governor Road Reserve in East Rockingham, Fantasy Park in Waikiki and City Park in Rockingham.

The new permit system will allow operators to nominate locations for use on a daily basis, creating the potential for a variety of mobile operators to trade at a particular location throughout the year.

Mayor Deb Hamblin said the updated policy would help stimulate local businesses and activate community spaces that would otherwise remain unused.

“A strategic aspiration for the city is to actively pursue tourism and economic development and council’s adoption of the updated traders policy aligns strongly with this,” Ms Hamblin said.

“The city consulted widely with the community on this policy and the feedback we received, particularly from mobile food business owners, has been taken on board. These operators will now be able to take their services into new spaces that community members will be able to enjoy year-round.

“The updated policy strikes a healthy balance between protecting existing businesses and providing an innovative way for mobile operators to take advantage of new opportunities.”

For more information, visit the City of Rockingham website.