Salamanca Market stallholders are celebrating a “huge victory” after the City of Hobart tonight reached a new agreement – which clears up weeks of concerns over stallholder fees.
The Council has reached an agreement which will see an annual CPI increase for stall fees for the life of the agreement, capped at 10%.
In addition, council passed an amendment to supply a Salamanca Market Annual Revenue and Expenditure Statement – which the Stallholders Association says will end “years of secrecy”.
“Common sense has prevailed,” said Market Stallholders Association president Emma Hope.
“Tonight’s decision will ensure the sustainability and vibrancy of the market into the future,” she told Pulse.
“We sincerely thank all elected members for their support and for recognizing how significant Salamanca Market is for Hobart both culturally and economically.”
Alderman Simon Behrakis says the new fees were approved instead of the Council officer recommendation of a ‘much higher increase’, which was strongly opposed by market stallholders.
“Council isn’t the Salamanca Market, the stallholders are,” he said.
“They are its heart and soul. Council’s role in the market should be purely to facilitate the stallholders to do what they do best.”
Behrakis also raised concerns over the council’s spending in other areas which were discussed at tonight’s meeting.
“When the fee increases have a significant impact on the profitability and livelihoods of stallholders, spending over $40,000 on buskers and $19,000 on puppy parking just doesn’t pass the pub test,” he said.
