THE long awaited return of the Sunday morning Rotary markets to the Kiewa Street car park will take place on February 4.
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After what was hoped to be a short-term relocation, the markets have been held at the Wilson Street multi-deck car park for five years as the redeveloped Kiewa Street car park was delayed.
And members of the Albury North and Belvoir Wodonga Rotary clubs couldn’t be happier.
The majority of the 300 stall holders will be located on ground level of the car park and undercover with access to the first and second levels remaining open to market goers.
Stalls have been split on two levels at Wilson Street and parking spots have been at a premium with many places off limits due to nearby churches, motels and homes.
“All of that constrained our ability to get stall holders in,” Belvoir Wodonga president Trevor Pearce said.
“Coming back here gets rid of a lot of those issues.
“People couldn’t find a park and were giving up on coming.”
Albury North spokesman Peter Drummond said Kiewa Street was always the perfect place for the market.
“It is closer to the centre of the city and walking distance from some of the major shopping,” he said.
A storage area and toilets will be completed before February 4 with plans also to have designated food court and entertainment areas.
Lighting has also been installed by Rotary and additional power sources for stall holders created.
The markets operate between 8.30am and 12.30pm and profits, largely from stall holder fees, split 50/50 for community causes in Albury and Wodonga.
The majority of stall holders have indicated they will return on February 4 with some newcomers expected.
The Kiewa Street car park was re-opened in the lead-up to Christmas with 724 all-day spots available for shoppers and central Albury workers.
The toilets will only be open on market days and will be located under the ramp to the first floor of the car park.