Ekka Dagwood dog seller fights government shut-down order
The Queensland Government has told an Ekka food trader to move on but the Dagwood dog seller refuses to shut up shop. Here’s why.
South West
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An EKKA Dagwood dog seller who set up shop in a suburban street says he’s not going anywhere despite being denied trading approval by the Queensland Government.
Business owner Jesse McDonald set up shop on a family property at Doolandella in late May and has attracted a following of nearly 4000 people online since then.
The business, which would usually be travelling to shows across the country, has been denied a temporary business licence to continue to trade in an area zoned by Brisbane City Council as residential.
The government cited parking issues along Blunder Rd as the main driver behind the refusal.
“The proposed use would attract a significant volume of traffic to stop, park and purchase products,” a letter addressed to Mr McDonald and his wife Alicia said.
“The mobile van is proposed to be located on the boundary of Blunder Rd which is a major arterial road with a posted speed limit of 70kmh.
“The proposed location and design of the mobile van would act as a significant distraction to drivers.
“Vehicles endeavouring to park on the edge of the verge adjacent to the cycle lane will be constantly blocking and crossing the dedicated cycle lane.”
The letter also stated that the option of moving customer parking onto the private residential block had been investigated.
“Any proposal to provide on-site parking would need to consider additional factors such as adequate sight lines and traffic management interventions in the road reserve in order to achieve an acceptable safety outcome,” it said.
Mr McDonald said he had not been given the opportunity to submit a full traffic management plan and was willing to work on a solution.
In the meantime, he would be staying put.
“I never got my case heard,” he said.
“I’ll be seeking legal advice once I get a formal letter to close.
“Finally, after three months we got a bit of work, the public is happy.”
Mr McDonald said he had to apply for Centrelink payments “for the first time in my life” as a result of COVID-19 impacts on his industry.
He said while an informal offer from Brisbane City Council to move to a different undisclosed location had been floated he wanted to stay where he was.
“I need three-phase power, I need town water... I’d need security (over night)... I can’t afford all that,” he said.
Mr McDonald said ongoing support from a regular base of customers was much appreciated.
“You get all frustrated and then you talk to the public and it cheers you up again,” he said.
A Queensland Treasury spokesman said the government was working closely with Mr McDonald and Brisbane City Council to identify “more appropriate alternative sites for Mr McDonald’s operation and to assist with any related approvals”.
“Unfortunately specialist traffic advice from engineers has confirmed that the traffic and safety impacts raised by Brisbane City Council are unable to be resolved,” the spokesman said.
“Enforcement of local laws and unlawful uses are a matter for Brisbane City Council.”
A council spokesman said confirmed they had been in touch with Mr McDonald regarding alternative options.
“It’s great to see people like Jesse find alternative ways to continue to trade and while his Dagwood Dog van has been a hit with locals, the State Government has rejected the Temporary Use Licence,” they said.
“We’ve been in touch with Jesse to advise him about other options available so he can continue to trade locally, but so far, he’s not expressed interest in them.
“Other alternatives are to apply online to trade in council parks and we are here to support Jesse if he changes his mind and wants to investigate these options.
“The last thing we want to do is see small businesses go under and that’s why we’ve done what we can with initiatives that can help people continue to operate their food vans.”
They said that included waiving a range of small business fees and charges to lessen the burden on businesses, including food vans.
“We know the cancellation of the Ekka has been devastating for people whose livelihoods rely on the show circuit.”