Food fest flop leaves bad taste
AN EXPERIENCED event planner has accused Commonwealth Games organisers of blindsiding up to 50 market stall holders and sending them “broke”.
Owner of Happ’s Events, Diane Happ, said she had sunk $350,000 into a food and wine festival within spitting distance of Carrara Stadium only to have nobody turn up.
Ms Happ said she understood the venue, set up in the carpark of the KDV Sport centre, was in a main thoroughfare for spectators visiting the stadium.
But Ms Happ said at the last minute she was left in the lurch by GOLDOC when buses carrying thousands of potential customers drove past the festival’s 50 exhibitors from Nerang Station right into the stadium.
“The first three or four days or whatever it’s been they’ve changed all the traffic plans that were on the (GOLDOC) website to only enter and exit closer to the stadium,” Ms Happ said.
“So they’ve sent everybody broke, including me.”
But GOLDOC said transport planning was not altered in the lead up to the event, adding they had no involvement with Ms Happ’s food and wine festival.
So far 20 exhibitors have packed up and left Ms Happ’s event and she said all 50 stall holders “wanted to kill her” and were demanding to be refunded the rent they paid her.
Ms Happ said she had not experienced anything like it in 25 years.
“I’m feeling depressed, I’ve lost a lot of money and all my exhibitors want to kill me and they want their money back. It might get better, we’ve put on a really nice show,” she said.
“We started with 50 exhibitors but we’re down to 30 – we’ve never had exhibitors trying to lynch mob us like we had at this.”
Ms Happ said GOLDOC had not made it easy for the festival, which features a variety of food and beverage stalls and live music.
“It’s cost us $350,000, it’s been a nightmare.
“They put all the traffic on the other side of the road so (foot traffic) can’t get to us, they’ve done everything to stop us.”
In a statement, a GOLDOC spokesman said crowds over the next few days could help Ms Happ’s festival.
“There has been a big crowd at Carrara today enjoying the first day of the athletics competition,” GOLDOC spokesman said.
“Crowds over the next six days of athletics remain strong and combined with other sports under way in the Sports and Leisure Centre will contribute to increased foot traffic throughout the precinct.
“GOLDOC was made aware of the expo but has had no involvement with the KDV event as it occurs outside of the stadium precinct.”