Stallholders at Tasmania’s iconic Salamanca Market are pushing back against a proposal by the Hobart City Council to increase rent.
The Salamanca Market Stallholders Association has vowed to fight the Council’s plan, which would significantly increase fees for more than 300 small businesses.
According to Emma Hope, the President of the Salamanca Market Stallholders Association, the rent increase would make Salamanca one of the most expensive markets in the country.
“After a tough couple of years with COVID restrictions in place, this could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back for many stallholders,” she said.
“We urge Council to scrap the rent hike, or at the very least simply increase rent by CPI rather than trying to pick the pockets of stallholders.”
The Salamanca Market is a beloved Tasmania attraction, drawing thousands of visitors to the city each week.
However, stallholders have reported declining sales, with people visiting the market having less money to spend.
“We’re already seeing that people visiting the Market have less money to spend. Conditions are only going to get tougher as interest rates and the cost of living soar,” Hope said.
Some stallholders operate on ‘razor-thin margins’ and a significant increase in rent could “be the straw that breaks the camel’s back.”
“Our stallholders pride themselves on making the Market a really vibrant, fun and creative place that locals love and visitors have at the top of their to-do list.”
”But the reality is every one of the more than 300 businesses involved in the market is doing it tough,” Hope said.
The proposed rent increase will be considered by councillors and aldermen next week, ahead of a formal vote on 20 March.
