There appears no certainty as to where the monthly Byron Market and weekly Farmers Market will call home when construction of the Butler Street bypass commences.
At last Thursday’s Council meeting, councillors voted to close Butler Street Reserve to the public ‘after the July 7 Community Markets for a period of six months while a section of the Byron bypass is built.’
Cr Spooner declared a pecuniary interest and abstained from voting.
Lockable gates
Lockable steel gates will also be installed at the reserve to restrict vehicle access during the closure period and during the ‘no parking’ periods overnight.
Yet the decision appears to come without a clear market relocation plan, with staff being asked to ‘provide market managers with any information available regarding viability of other potential relocation sites identified by the markets, including planning approvals required.’
There are preparations for the Cavanbah Centre on Ewingsdale Road to have ‘all relevant approvals in place to host markets during the closure period, should that be required’.
Staff have been instructed by councillors to ‘continue to liaise with market managers to facilitate the return of markets to Butler Street Reserve once relocation of the site compound has occurred’.
‘Mr Wesolowski has also told Echonetdaily once-buried rubbish has surfaced in the Butler Street Reserve and the grounds have eroded since its use as a car park.’
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