Townsville City Council’s Community and Cultural Development Committee has recommended a new Street Food Strategy be adopted.
The Strategy aims to balance the needs of bricks-and-mortar businesses and street food vendors while identifying viable public land for food trucks.
The Street Food Strategy will encourage businesses in the sector to grow and create jobs, help activate key public spaces and streamline Council processes.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville Eats has highlighted the growing interest in food trucks.
“Street food vendors are becoming more popular and we’re developing the Street Food Strategy to promote future growth and job opportunities,” Cr Hill said.
“We want to activate public spaces so we can boost the economy and create more social events.
“We want to promote Townsville as a vibrant, fun destination.”
Cr Hill said the Street Food Strategy will evolve with the industry.
“We’ll implement the Strategy as a pilot program for 12 months and we’ll use the trial period to have ongoing talks with vendors,” Cr Hill said.
“It will give us time to develop the best approach and prime locations in public spaces.
“We are also looking to balance the needs of food trucks and existing food businesses – we don’t want to hurt bricks and mortar outlets.”
Cr Hill said the new Strategy will make life simpler for mobile vendors.
“The Strategy will remove a lot of red tape for truck owners,” Cr Hill said.
“In the past, vendors have had to submit all their information for each event – the overarching Strategy will eliminate that and it will also streamline our processes.”
The report will go to Full Council on 25 June for final consideration.