The mobile food vending trial is expected to be held during the 2018/19 summer period and is in response to residents requesting greater choice and convenience in food and beverage options at Wagga’s main recreation and open spaces. 

Dominic Kennedy from Wagga City Council hoped that better activation of locations like the Wagga Beach will result in positive, social, economic and security impacts. 

“We’ve identified areas where services could be increased and meet demand and to see if food trucks can meet this need,” Mr Kennedy said. 

“Ideally we hope to activate places along Wagga Beach and areas around the lake where people like to congregate. 

“But it’s also for food trucks and vans to figure out where the hot spots are, whether it’s a coffee van and if there are specific places out in the industrial and commercial areas that have high demand.” 

Mr Kennedy said that this is a market that Wagga should tap into as there have been nine requests within two months to operate food and beverage businesses on public land. 

“We believe there is a market and community interest for mobile food vending vehicles and we’re trying to meet this need with the nine requests we’ve had,” he said. 

“We’ve taken this trial from a Sydney Food Trial 2013 and 2016 study and how they adopted that market and it found that 98 per cent of people surveyed in this trial said they supported the food truck initiative. 

“This presents an opportunity for brick and mortar businesses to expand their market or for start-up businesses to establish their business and grow.” 

While food trucks are meeting a need in the hospitality sector of Wagga, they are often controversial with local outlets complaining that outside operators are encroaching on their territory. 

The requirements that surround the trial are:

Mr Kennedy said the trial has been based on lessons learnt from outside areas including Newcastle, Albury and Wollongong. 

“The more successful trial in these areas have shown that less restrictions have allowed the market to sort itself out and therefore we’re hoping not to put too many policies around our food vending trial,” he said. 

“Wagga has a fairly robust community and events like Fusion and the Night Market with many food vendors, we’re expecting a good response and we’ll probably prioritise locals and a variety of high quality foods.” 

Council advised that mobile food trucks run under the same “strict” guidelines as food and hospitality venues and there will be periodic inspections to ensure vendors are abiding by the rules.

President of the Wagga Business Chamber Danielle Pascoe said the trial is being conducted to determine the feasibility of allowing mobile food vending on public land. 

“The food vending trial could potentially open up opportunities for businesses, allow another purchasing option for customers and could create an increase in business activity,” Mrs Pascoe said. 

“However, this must be balanced against the position of our established businesses who have rent and other expenses along with substantially higher overheads than a mobile business may have.” 

The council is seeking feedback and comments from businesses by October 28.