Redcliffe Markets ready to reopen on Mother’s Day but there will be some new rules

A popular foreshore market north of Brisbane will reopen this weekend just in time for Mother’s Day – but there will be some significant changes and new rules.

Redcliffe Market operators have decided to reopen the popular Sunday market which closed five weeks ago due to COVID-19 concerns.

Mark Power, of Goodwill Projects, who operate Redcliffe markets, along with several others around Brisbane and southeast Queensland, said the decision to reopen was made on Wednesday.

“We could have opened yesterday (Sunday) but given it was a long weekend we wanted to make sure people had enough notice. We only made a decision on Wednesday,” Mr Power said.

Despite strict COVID-19 regulations markets were allowed to continue operating but Mr Power they made the decision to close Redcliffe at is spanned 950m and was too hard to introduce the proper safety measures.

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Redcliffe Markets always attract a large crowd. PHOTO: FILE

“We have had five weeks to prepare these,” Mr Power said.

These new changes will be implemented when the market reopens at 8am on Sunday.

There will be mobile hand wash bays and hand sanitising stations at every entry and exit to the markets as well as inside.

“Our biggest concern was the number of people handling goods,” Mr Power said.

To combat this there will be a 1.5m distance marked off at each stall.

“People can then choose what they want and the goods will only be handled once,” Mr Power said.

“We have had a lot of good feedback about this process from our Brisbane markets.”

Stalls will also be spaced out to allow for social distancing.

There will also be extra staff walking around reminding people to keep their 1.5m distance from others.

All seating will be removed to discourage people from lingering and gathering in groups.

There will be 1.5m distances taped out on the ground at busy stalls such as the fresh produce tents.

Mr Power said the majority of stalls would also be set up with EFTPOS.

“We are going to keep it really open, in the sunshine with the sea breeze, so people can pop in grab their goods and then get out,” Mr Power said.

There will still be handmade goods for sale as well as food and drinks – but as takeaway only.

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Being Mother’s Day Mr Power said there would be several florists set up with plenty of stock and a great range.

Mr Power said reopening the markets would not just provide a boost for the stall holders but for the other businesses along Redcliffe Pde who have been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Redcliffe Market will be open on Sunday from 8am-2pm.