They were a lifesaver during the coronavirus lockdown and have become a welcome sight in suburbs across Wagga.

Now, even more coffee vans and food trucks will soon be allowed to hit our streets.

The number of permits available as part of Wagga City Council's mobile food vendor program will increase by five, bringing the total number available to 15.

The council will also review the range of offerings provided and any opportunities to expand the program further, with a report to councillors to be filed by the end of the year.

The decision to offer more mobile food vendor permits is a win-win for those who operate the vans and the wider community.

Shirleen Van Gorkom's dream of owning a coffee van was fast-tracked after she lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mrs Van Gorkom now owns 3 Dutchies but, as a new player in the game, had been restricted to where she could set up without a permit.

With just 10 permits available, all were snapped up in the program's first year and all of the existing holders wanted to renew.

This week's decision to expand the program means Mrs Van Gorkom can now run a thriving business and operate "mostly unrestricted".

"I can go down to Wagga Beach and provide a service where there are so many people out for a walk or set up in the suburbs where people don't want to drive into town for coffee," she said.

"If the demand is there and people are asking me to go out [to the outlying suburbs and villages] I would happily do so."

While some people might be concerned mobile operators are taking customers away from other businesses, it is important to note the increase in permits is a modest one.

As Councillor Vanessa Keenan says, the move is about creating a fair marketplace while ensuring the existing operators who had "first dibs" on the permits did not lock out others wanting to do the same.

There is no point over-saturating the city's roadsides, but there certainly is a demand for coffee vans and food trucks in our suburbs that don't have those shops nearby.

For mobile operators, it's about bringing the goods to the people. And their popularity shows the people clearly want the goods.

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