FOOD TRUCK FRIDAY FIZZLE
FOOD Truck Fridays is failing to attract customers and stallholders, new figures show.
The initiative, introduced to activate Geelong’s troubled mall, attracted more than 2000 people in 2014.
This figure dropped by more than 65 per cent to around 700 last year with just three food trucks spotted at last week’s event.
The future of the mall has come under scrutiny in recent weeks following the increased visibility of rough sleepers in the area and reports of violence.
Former Geelong Mayor Darryn Lyons, who spearheaded the initiative, said the failure of Food Trucks Friday was indicative of the way the mall is perceived.
“It’s been a disgrace the way the CBD again has been left to (go to) squalor,” Mr Lyons said.
“The mall is full of absolute scumbags that are not dealt with.”
Mr Lyons said the demise of the event was re- flective of a council “that has lost its passion for the CBD”.
He said filling the mall with police was not the answer — with more investment in initiatives like Food Truck Fridays needed to activate the area.
“I think (mall issues are) due very much to the problems with the people that hang about there,” Mr Lyons said.
“I am a huge fan of not including police — if you fill a beautiful area with people it would be self-policing”.
But council’s director of investment and attraction Brett Luxford denied that anti-social behaviour, fighting or drunkenness in the mall was behind the decline of the once-popular event.
“No, we have not experienced any negative or antisocial behaviour at Food Truck Friday events,” Mr Luxford said.
“They have provided a positive and welcoming community atmosphere, bringing more life to this area and providing a great social outlet for workers in Central Geelong.”
Mr Luxford said the number of patrons and food trucks at the event had been gradually declining from 2000 in 2014 to around 700-1000 last year.
He said there had also been a “gradual decline in food trucks” over this period.
“Since Food Truck Friday started in 2014, there has been a general decline in the popularity of food trucks, as well as an increasing number of food options in Central Geelong,” Mr Luxford said.