The DPRecover coffee van, seen here staffed by Lara and Mel Louise, often sets up shop at Griffith sporting events. But owner Amanda Elvy said proposed new fees may mean it won’t return. Photo: Oliver Jacques.
Mobile coffee vendors say a Griffith City Council plan to sharply increase trading fees could force operators to abandon local sporting events and push up prices for customers.
The council has proposed an annual trading fee of $1200 for coffee and ice cream vans operating on public or council-owned land, including at sporting events.
Vendors currently pay an annual fee of $271, meaning the proposed charge would be more than four times the present amount.
Food trucks operating near the Griffith CBD could face an even steeper bill, with proposed fees of up to $2000 a month.
After a divided council vote, councillors agreed to charge 50 per cent of the proposed fees for an initial 12-month trial, while permit take-up and feedback are assessed.
That would still lift the annual fee for coffee and ice cream vans to $600 during the trial.
The revised vending vehicle policy will remain on public exhibition before council decides whether to formally adopt it.
Single mum Amanda Elvy runs the DPRecover coffee van based in Darlington Point and regularly travels to Griffith for tennis and football events.
She said the increased cost would make those trips no longer worthwhile.
“Coffee vans are more a service to the public. We don’t make heaps of money,” she said.
“I’d rather spend Sunday afternoon with my kids than paying a huge fee to sell a few coffees at the footy ground.”
Ms Elvy said her van was registered with Murrumbidgee Council, which does not charge her a trading fee.
“I’m better off just staying here,” she said.
Peter Wallace, who started Griffith’s first coffee van, Peeches, but is now retired, said the higher fees would ultimately hurt the community.
“It’s just not right. It means prices will go up and revenue will go down,” he said.
“When we did sporting events, we’d give 10 per cent back to the club. So if vans don’t operate, they’d lose that.”
Another operator, Back Pocket Coffee, has urged residents to lodge submissions opposing the proposal.
“The proposed fee represents an increase of around 700 per cent, a cost many operators simply cannot absorb,” the business posted on Facebook.
“Mobile vendors already pay permit fees and must comply with a permit system containing 26 separate conditions.
“We are not competing directly with local cafes, as existing rules prevent us from operating within 100 metres of a cafe, making much of the CBD off-limits.
“If these businesses can no longer operate on council land, what will that mean for local events? Fewer mobile vendors supporting community events.”
Back Pocket Coffee has urged residents to write submissions opposing the increase. Photo: Supplied.
The proposal also divided councillors.
Councillor Scott Groat strongly opposed the new fees.
“I’m totally against this. There’s only a few coffee vans and we are going to tax them. This is not good PR for council,” he said.
Councillor Shari Blumer moved that council impose 50 per cent of the proposed fees for a 12-month trial.
Mayor Doug Curran and councillors Jenny Ellis and Laurie Testoni supported the motion, while councillors Groat, Anne Napoli, Christine Stead and Mark Dal Bon opposed it.
The vote was tied 4-4, forcing Mayor Curran to use his casting vote to approve the trial.
Councillor Tony O’Grady did not participate in the debate or vote after declaring a pecuniary interest because his business operates a food van.
The proposed new fees will not apply to vans operating on private land or as part of an approved event on public land.
Public submissions on the proposed vending vehicle policy can be made online until 4 pm on 9 October.
