Council cuts market fees
STRUGGLING Port Douglas market holders will get fee relief after the Far North council acknowledged the impact the global pandemic was having on keeping crowds away.
While the Sunday favourite is expected to be busy for the next few weeks with school holidays in full swing, the Queensland border ban on travellers from New South Wales and Victoria has decimated the usual numbers.
Douglas Shire mayor Michael Kerr said market stallholders will receive discounts from today to help soften the impact of border closures on their businesses
Cr Kerr said like many tourism-dependent businesses, many stallholders are struggling to make money without interstate tourists.
“We just aren’t getting the visitors at the moment, so it is important that we find ways within our means to help out our stallholders,” he said.
“Our stallholders, some who have been coming for decades, contribute to a fantastic atmosphere on a Sunday morning which plays an important role in attracting visitors from Cairns and the Tablelands.” The council resolved
to offer the relief “in recognition of the adverse impact interstate travel restrictions has on local small businesses”.
Stallholder fees will be reduced
to wet season levels and the council will waive the 44 weeks per annum attendance requirement for permanent stallholders.
Cr Kerr said they previously
introduced a wet season discount to fees for holding a stall at the Port Douglas Market to recognise fewer patrons.
“It is vital that we make it
easier for our stallholders to keep giving people another reason to come into Port Douglas, buy a coffee, enjoy a meal and support our local businesses,” he said.