By KATH GANNAWAY
THE committee that runs the Yarra Junction community markets have been told they can make a case at council as to why they should not have to pay a $270 annual leasing fee.
The Upper Yarra Community Market Inc. (UYCMI) holds markets on the council-owned car park adjacent to the football ground twice a month and has been asked to sign a Leasing and Licencing Agreement and pay the $270 fee.
The committee appealed for a waiver of the fee, saying they are a volunteer, not-for-profit organisation and that all the stallholder fees go to support local community organisations and projects.
A petition signed by more than 1000 people was also presented in support of their case, but was deemed invalid on the basis that it did not meet the required format for a petition.
In a letter to Yarra Ranges CEO Glenn Patterson on 24 November, UYCMI president Pam Jagger and secretary Adele Paisely said the committee recognised the need for a formal agreement but disputed the necessity to pay a fee.
They said in the past 15 years, the market, which has been running for more than 30 years, had returned over $53,000 back to community groups including schools, sporting clubs, church groups, SES and CFA.
“Council benefits from this as the community groups do not have to approach council directly for as much support,” they said.
They also said that since redesign of the car park by the council, the number of stalls they can have has been reduced to about 20.
Ms Paisely said the markets were a drawcard to the town for tourists.
“If we didn’t have the markets, people would just drive on to Warburton.”
She also questioned the policy of charging all markets on a one-size-fits-all basis, saying other markets with anything from 80 to 100 stalls pay the same fee.
Council’s director Environment and Engineering Mark Varmalis told the mail the insurance component of the fee covers the council’s liability as the owner of the land and the increased risk as a consequence of the use of the land as a market area.
“All markets using council facilities pay the same fee in line with the Leasing and Licencing Policy which, we believe, is an equitable approach for all community groups,” he said.
UYCMI have been advised that there is a process open to them should they wish to present an item at a council meeting, before the nine ward councillors.
Ms Paisely said the committee felt strongly that they were being penalised by the council rather than supported and would discuss whether they put their case before council.
