‘Crazy, unprecedented’: Riverside markets vow to go on despite Council ban

Organisers of a riverfront Brisbane market will press ahead with its second event this Sunday despite Council rescinding a traffic plan after huge crowds last month caused chaos.

The inaugural markets last month attracted a massive crowd, leading to complaints about traffic, unleashed dogs, Council inspectors issuing fines for illegally parked cars and long queues at market stalls.

Organisers of a riverfront market on Brisbane’s east side will press ahead with the second event this Sunday despite Council rescinding a traffic management plan after a 7000-strong crowd last month caused chaos.

The inaugural Rivermakers Markets event on July 21 sparked complaints about road chaos, queues for service, unleashed dogs and Council officers issuing parking fines.

The neighbouring Australian Country Choice (ACC) abattoir owned by billionaire Trevor Lee, who has waged a long war with the Rivermakers precinct owner, also complained to Council claiming three cattle trucks could not get in.

Goodwill Projects director Mark Power, who runs multiple markets across the southeast including Rivermakers, said he was told by Council officers only on Thursday night, August 15, that by they had rescinded his traffic management plan.

He described the move as “crazy’’ and “unprecedented’’, saying he came up with the plan precisely to avoid the problems last month.

The picturesque market site at Colmslie Recreation Reserve. Picture: Rivermakers Markets/Facebook

Mr Power accused Council of not acting in good faith and said the traffic consultants he worked with told him they had never experienced such a move in their combined 80 years in business.

Goodwill Projects was forced to announce almost immediately after last month’s inaugural event that it would have to scrap plans for a weekly market, after seeking legal advice.

Mr Power said his advice was that the zoning for the site, a spectacular riverfront parkland area at Colmslie Recreation Reserve, allowed for a monthly market.

“This defies logic and common sense. We can’t legally now provide traffic managers,’’ he said.

“Council asked us to put in a plan, which we did in good faith because we want to be a good corporate citizen.

“This is all about looking after our neighbour (ACA) and our customers.’’

The inaugural markets last month attracted a massive crowd. Picture: Rivermakers Markets/Facebook

A Council spokeswoman confirmed officers wrote to both the land owner and the market organisers on July 8 warning they did not have approval to operate markets at the site.

“The markets were issued an infringement related to the market operator’s failure to receive an events permit for their July 21 event,’’ she said.

“At this stage, the market operator still does not have an event permit, while the land owner does not have the necessary development approvals.’’

The Traffic Management Plan was rescinded after a significant discrepancy was discovered between its plan and the event permit application.

The event permit application proposed up to 10,000 attendees, while the traffic management plan proposed 2000 visitors.

About 7000 people attended the first event. Picture: Rivermakers Markets/Facebook

A spokeswoman for the Rivermakers precinct, owned by billionaire recycling king Balfour Irvine, said however that it would not be deterred.

“The Rivermakers market will be going ahead on Sunday August 18 to provide Brisbane families with access to local farmers and growers in these tough economic times,’’ she said.

“Our advice is that the event is lawful in this location and it is upsetting that one complaint is stifling an entire community’s access to a safe event.’’

Local Morningside ward Councillor Lucy Collier said she was still awaiting a briefing from the Council CEO after writing to him last month.

She said customers at the nearby Total Fusion gym and a McDonald’s restaurant also reported trouble accessing those businesses.

Stalls at the July markets were swamped with customers. Picture: Rivermakers Markets

“This is an event the community really wants, as evidenced by the crowd,’’ Ms Collier said.

“But the feedback we got was that traffic was an issue.

“The organisers have listened and introduced a traffic management plan, so it seems outrageous Council has done this (rescind the permit).

“This does not solve the problem at all.’’

Mr Power said his expectation was that this Sunday’s crowd would be about half the size of the first event and would then likely halve again before stabilising, in line with his experience at other markets.