By JOLENE OGLE
THE fate of the Tastes of Noosaville markets are still unknown, as the negative impact of the markets are outlined in a report to the Noosa Council at the Planning and Organisation Committee meeting on Tuesday.
The report provided to council lists a number of issues with the market organisation, with parking highlighted as a significant issue leading to a loss of revenue for local businesses.
According to the report, organisers of the markets failed to implement a number of traffic management strategies throughout the three-month trial, including a lack of traffic controllers at the Homemaker Centre for the first market.
An increased cost to the Homemaker Centre tenants due to hiring traffic controllers for the third market and added congestion in the Noosaville area due to road closures were also listed as issues with the market.
However, in a submission to council on 11 January, the Noosaville Business Association said the market had been a huge success and was “keen for markets to continue” despite “initial teething issues”.
The market organiser also submitted feedback to council on 11 January, which said the markets had been very well received and patronised by the community “adding life to the area”.
The report to the committee recommended the market permit only be extended to 30 June if the Noosaville Business Association and Homemaker Centre Body Corporate agreed on a traffic congestion management strategy that was acceptable to council.
No decision was made in regards to the recommendation. The Planning and Organisation Committee decided to move the discussion to the general committee meeting on Monday 9 February due to the public interest in the issue.
