Burger van nod angers traders

NORTH Hobart traders and the Tasmanian Hospitality Association are up in arms over a council decision to approve an application for a burger van.

The Hobart City Council last month gave the nod to Mr Burger, which has a shopfront in Liverpool St, to operate a burger van at the corner of Elizabeth St and Commercial Rd near the restaurant strip seven days a week from 11am to 9pm.

North Hobart Traders Association president John Kelly said a food van did not have to meet the strict regulations that apply to bricks-and-mortar restaurants.

“The council handling of this matter is both naive and arrogant and creates a dangerous precedent,” he said.

At last night’s council meeting, Alderman Marti Zucco moved a successful motion for the council to review the Food Van Program and associated regulations. He said there were about four other food vans operating across the city.

“We have a situation where these temporary food vans have certain health regulations and if they are becoming permanent, shouldn’t they have the same regulations that a commercial kitchen has?” he asked his colleagues.

Mr Burger owner Alex Heros defended his right to operate the $150,000 van.

“They are trying to say we don’t have grease traps but we have them built into the truck.” He said two other permanent food trucks operated in New Town without controversy.

The THA said it believed the council was prohibiting fair competition by allowing an operation without requiring a grease trap, customer facilities and other expectations placed on permanent operators.

A council spokesman said the burger van application only received two objections.