By JOLENE OGLE
A local business owner has slammed media reports about the closure of Tastes of Noosaville night markets, saying there have been several inaccuracies.
Local businessman Ralph Rogers said the Tastes of Noosaville market was not cancelled by the council due to a single complaint, as it has been previously reported.
Rather, Mr Rogers said the market was only approved for the October to December period with a review to be carried out after the third market, which a Noosa Council spokesperson confirmed in a statement to Noosa Today this week.
“To suggest council would cancel an event because of one ‘complaint’ does council staff a disservice as it is untrue,” Mr Rogers said.
Mr Rogers said the council always proposed to review the markets after the end of the three-month period, where local businesses would be asked to provide feedback to the council.
The report sent to the council by the Homemaker Body Corporate, pointing to parking and traffic congestion as one of the major issues needing to be addressed, was part of the request for feedback and not a single complaint, Mr Rogers said.
“The operators need to provide an effective traffic management plan just like everyone else,” he said.
Mr Rogers, along with another party, owns Lot 1 in the Homemaker Centre and is also a member of the body corporate.
He said the body corporate acted to protect the best interests of the centre’s tenants.
“There is no effective (traffic management) plan as to where everyone is going to park, hence the cars pile into the Homemaker Centre starting at 2.30-3pm,” Mr Rogers said.
“No parking plan was provided by anyone advising where to park.
“Some of the businesses at the Homemaker Centre depend on easy access – medical, video, X-ray – all have a parking lot entitlement as part of their lease.
“These businesses were badly affected and demanded the body corporate do something.”
Mr Rogers said his other development, Acres, has also been named as an opponent to the night markets, with some people suggesting there is a commercial agenda.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” Mr Rogers said.
“Acres is a $5 million investment trying to redefine what a garden and lifestyle centre is.
“You do not spend that sort of money for the purpose of running a night market,” he said.
