Excessive restrictions and red tape keeping popular food vans out of Yarra

Nic Price
January 17, 2013
http://leader-news.whereilive.com.au/

FOOD van operators say Yarra Council is making it too difficult to set up shop, denying inner urban hipsters a share of their popular fare.

Almost a year after Yarra Council voted to allow vans in the municipality, no operators have paid the $2000 annual fee and started dishing up meals.

Michael Cotter, co-founder of New Orleans-inspired Gumbo Kitchen, said he was very keen to move into the municipality.

But he said restrictions on the vans’ proximity to similar businesses and residents were prohibitive.

“We’ve enquired about a few spots and been told they are not appropriate,” Mr Cotter said.

“We’d like the council to take another look at the restrictions and adjust them accordingly.”

Under council guidelines, a van must not operate within 200m of a takeaway food business or within or next to a residential zone.

Mr Cotter said Edinburgh Gardens in North Fitzroy would likely be the “busiest food truck spot in Australia”, but the council had declared it a no go zone.

Rafael Rashid, the owner of well-known vans Taco Truck and Beatbox Kitchen, agreed the restrictions were too onerous.

“Spots that comply with the guidelines don’t exist anywhere (that is) commercially viable,” Mr Rashid said.

Mr Rashid said he hadn’t given up on a permit in Yarra, but was more inclined to work with councils that “embraced” food vans like Darebin, Moreland and Port Phillip.

Yarra Mayor Cr Jackie Fristacky said the council had to consider residential amenity and viability of existing businesses.

Cr Fristacky said a van was fined $400 in December for operating in Johnston St without a permit.