New Alfresco Dining and Street Trader policy taking shape

Published on 14 September 2017

Mildura Rural City Council has started the second phase of its Alfresco Dining and Street Trader policy review, with a community workshop and drop-in session planned for 19 September.

The review started in June this year with an initial series of community workshops and one-on-one sessions, driven not only by Council’s regular review process, but the increased growth and popularity of alfresco dining and street trading in recent years.

June’s workshops and one-on-one sessions were designed to seek ideas and feedback from the community, business owners and traders on current alfresco dining and street trading in the district.

This feedback has now been collated, revealing three common themes:

• a desire for policies that better reflect Mildura’s unique character
• a need for improved fixtures and fittings used in public open spaces, which could encourage better use of these spaces
• a desire for a better standard of amenity, comfort, services and features for patrons.

This month’s community workshop and drop-in session are designed to explore these three key areas with business owners, traders, design/development professionals and the community in a bid to further define the direction of the new Alfresco Dining and Street Trader Policy.

They will be held at the following locations and times:

Drop-in session: 4pm – 6pm at Mildura City Heart office. 63a Langtree Mall.

Community Workshop: 6.30pm – 7.30pm at the Benetook Room. Alfred Deakin Centre.

Councillor for Economic Development and Tourism Mark Eckel said the review was ultimately aimed at ensuring Council’s Alfresco Dining and Street Trader Policy is aligned with the ongoing development of this sector.

“There has been a spike in the growth of alfresco dining and street trading in recent years, which from a tourism and economic development perspective is certainly a positive step for our region,” Cr Eckel said.

“To make sure we capitalise on this growth and ensure it continues in a sustainable and manageable way, it’s important we review the way we’re doing things now and investigate where improvements or changes can be made to existing policies.”

Once feedback is collected from this month’s drop-in session and community workshop, a draft policy will go out on public exhibition for final comment.

For residents who can’t make this month’s sessions, a survey is also available from Council’s Have Your Say page at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Customer-Support/Have-Your-Say as well as Council’s Customer Service Centres. Responses must be submitted by Friday, 6 October.

For more information contact Council’s Strategic Planning team on (03) 5018 8100.

Media enquiries 
Ben Piscioneri
p) (03) 5018 8689 
e) ben.piscioneri@mildura.vic.gov.au