New date to re-open four of Brisbane’s biggest markets

After weeks of enforced hibernation, and in a move that’s not related to this weekend’s relaxation of some social distancing restrictions, four of the Brisbane region’s most popular farmers markets are set to reopen within weeks.

A swag of southeast markets that had been closed due to social distancing rules and a steep drop in trade are expected to reopen in mid-May.

Markets supremo Peter Hackworth today announced she would be permanently reopening Kelvin Grove Village Markets, on May 9, and Riverside at the Gardens Market, on Mother’s Day.

The decision was unrelated to new, relaxed social distancing laws announced by the State Government on the weekend, she said.

Mark Power from Goodwill Projects, which runs a large number of markets across the region, said he hoped to reopen Redcliffe and Cathedral Square (CBD) markets in a fortnight.

But Ms Hackworth’s hugely popular Eat Street North Markets at Hamilton will remain closed.

While Riverside is a fairly small market, the Kelvin Grove outlet is much larger and takes over several streets at the Kelvin Grove Urban Village in Brisbane’s inner north.

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Ms Hackworth was last month forced to close both due to social distancing rules and a drop in trade as shoppers stayed at home.

Fresh fruit and other produce will be back as normal, but ready-to-eat food and drink stalls have been tweaked for takeaway only, in line with current restrictions.

They include Chinese dumplings and buns, Thai Street Food, freshly baked croissants, coffee and juices.

Ms Hackworth said the health and wellbeing of stallholders and the public was still her top priority.

“Both markets will continue to follow the advice of government and health authorities to ensure the highest level of hygiene standards are being met,’’ she said.

“This includes sanitiser stations, no seating and regulating of social distancing.’’

Mr Power said he had decided to close Redcliffe Markets because it sprawled across 1km of foreshore, so it was difficult to enforce social distancing.

But he was now confident the markets, a massive draw for shoppers who come from as far afield as Brisbane, could operate safely.

“The change allowing people to drive 50km will help a lot because the markets have for a long time been a low cost way for families to have a good day at the (waterfront),’’ he said.

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“We’ve seen better numbers on Wednesday at our Reddacliff Place (CBD) market, people are starting to come back to the CBD, so we think we can reopen Cathedral Square by mid-May.

“We’ll make sure to have the staples office workers need to do their grocery shopping.’’

Jan Powers New Farm Powerhouse Market came under fire in recent weeks after photos were published of crowds packed in around some stalls, which sparked criticism from police and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

The following week, crowd numbers were well down and organisers had moved the two rows of stalls further apart, employed social distancing staff in high-vis vests, and sanitiser stations.

Crowds at the New Farm attraction last Saturday were back up to levels seen earlier in the month, although crowd control measures were still in place.