Food trucks could start showing up in more of Albury’s public places like Noreuil Park.
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The draft “activities on public lands and roads framework”, currently out for public comment, has recommended allowing temporary permits for pop-up businesses.
The change in attitude from Albury Council comes after an overwhelming 87 per cent of 283 responses to a public survey last year supported the move.
In contrast, Albury businesses have previously complained the food trucks take away their usual customers.
Speaking at last week’s council meeting, Cr Murray King recalled how he went to Noreuil Park over Easter and found the facilities were not open.
“There must have been 1000 people at Noreuil Park at the peninsula and certainly up in Australia Park - all having barbecues, all out in the sun having a great time,” he said.
“We can get the food vans and get the place activated.
“The traders may say ‘you’re taking that type of activity away from us’, well there’s no competition from traders down there. The only one there wasn’t open, yet there were still 1000 people down there.”
Councillors voted unanimously to release the plan for public exhibition, before they make a final decision.
“Hopefully we can get it up and running by next Easter and everyone will have a good time,” Cr King said.
“Finally we’re getting forward with outdoor activities.
“We’ve got some fantastic locations in Albury, especially along the river and certainly QEII Square as well and we need to showcase that to people.”
Hopefully we can get it up and running by next Easter and everyone will have a good time.
- Cr Murray King
The draft plan also proposes allowing large tourist vehicles in the city by creating “overnight RV parking zones” at the railway precinct, Kremur Street boat ramp car park and riverside locations at Hovell Tree Drive and Australia Park.
While 82 per cent of responses in Albury Council’s survey supported designated overnight RV parking zones, 28 per cent stated they should not be in riverside parks.
The council’s report stated funding under the Regional Growth and Environmental Tourism program could be used to make Hovell Tree Drive RV-friendly, and works at Australia Park would be planned under a long-term master plan.
