Monday, 2 May 2011

Farmers market planned for City Beach school site

By James Pearson, 18 April 2011


The State Planning Commission will hear plans for a farmers market in city beach.


A public hearing was held on the 15th of March to discuss Kapinara Primary School’s plans to hold a community run farmers market on Saturday mornings. 


Many residents objected to the proposed plan stating that it would cause traffic issues, safety issues and it would disturb the quiet weekend mornings.


A petition with signatures of 156 residents objected the proposed plan.


The Council committee rejected the plans, but made recommendations to the school.


The committee suggested that approval be limited to 12 months, they give the council an access traffic plan and parking on the school oval be free of charge instead of a gold coin donation.


But the Council of Cambridge does not have the power to approve a farmers market at Kapinara Primary School.


 As the farmers market is planned to be held at a public school, it comes under the jurisdiction of the State Planning Commission.


“The Cambridge Council is a mediator between the two parties,” the Manager of Governance for Cambridge City Council, Neil Costello, said.


“It makes recommendations to Kapinara Primary school and to the State Planning Commission.


“The Planning Commission handles it because the school is public property and it has to be handled by a public authority,” he said. 


A flood of complaints has hit the Council due to its inability to stop the market.


Kapinara Primary School’s P and C has assured residents it will comply with all of the council’s recommendations.


“The request has gone to the State Planning Commission and it is being processed,” P and C member Ellie Munt said.


“We have taken the Council’s recommendations and have put them in our plan.”


Mr Costello assured residents if the Planning Commission does approve the farmers market, the council will try to make it less of an impact on residents.


“We will have rangers patrolling on Saturday mornings, and parking restrictions on street parking.”    

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