Foodtrucks to be moved on from Ashburton’s Baring Square East

Nicole Mathewson Reporter from The Press

By local democracy reporter Jonathan Leask:

Food truck operators are unfazed about no longer being able to regularly trade at Baring Square East.

That’s because of proposed alternative options, or the fact they have already abandoned trading in the CBD.

The Ashburton District Council’s draft trading in public places bylaw is proposing that mobile businesses can stay open later and in more places, but scrubbed Baring Square East as a permitted site because of the cafe in the new Library and Civic Centre.

Strategy and compliance group manager Jane Donaldson said part of the bylaw restricts mobile food vendors from operating at least 100 metres away from any premises selling a similar type of food.

While sites around Baring Square East are proposed to be off limits, a new site is being proposed just up East St across from the old post office.

Tu Meke BBQ’s Andrew Poswillo has been operating in the Ashburton CBD since February and said while Havelock St is an ideal site, given the council was providing new alternatives, it wasn’t such a big deal as they are a destination site utilising social media channels.

“We just need somewhere with access to power,” Poswillo said.

He also has plans on finding a suitable permanent site in the future.

Some other food truck operators have already abandoned the Baring Square East site.

Kebizza permanently relocated its food truck to Methven at the start of Ashburton’s CBD revitalisation project and has no plans to return.

Nigendy’s has also abandoned operating in the CBD at the same time.

Nigendy’s Wendy Ranson said due to rising costs and low foot traffic, they now operated a delivery-only service from home. But with a second mobile truck in the works, she welcomed the addition of new sites across the district.

Under the bylaw, mobile traders need a permit from council to operate at specified sites, or they can apply for discretionary sites for one off events.

Charities and community groups are exempt from site restrictions under council discretion.

Mayor Neil Brown said if any of the food trucks or other mobile vendors were unhappy with the proposed changes, or wanted to suggest other possible locations, they should put in a submission to be considered.

The Salmon Site in Rakaia is also being added as a discretionary site and several other sites are being added to the permitted list.

Another key proposed change is in the operating hours.

Currently the mobile businesses are expected to close half an hour after sunset, but that timing is now proposed to be set at 10pm.

The draft bylaw is out for public consultation until June 23.