Glebe Markets: Chourlartons Australia’s Organic Food Markets receive interim licence to run markets at Glebe Public School

The beloved Glebe Markets have received a lifeline but questions have been asked about the process to grant an interim licence, with some hopeful market operators saying they were left in the dark.

An online QR code petition was launched to save Glebe Markets. Picture: Jenny Evans.

Despite dire concerns, the future of the beloved Glebe Markets has been given a crucial lifeline.

However, questions are being asked about the process behind the granting of an interim 12-month process with hopeful market operators claiming they were left in the dark and shocked to learn a company, owned by a Liberal Party member, had been awarded the licence.

The new interim operator is Organic Food Markets, which will run the markets for 12 months from March 11.

A director of Organic Food Markets is Stephen Choularton, a Liberal Party member, said he intended to operate the markets in a similar fashion to how they have been run for he past three decades.

“We hope to see the market continue in exactly the same vein and tradition as it has been,” he said.

An online QR code petition to save the Glebe Markets received thousands of signatures. Picture: Jenny Evans.

While Balmain Labor candidate Philippa Scott celebrated the news of the interim licence, calling it “a real win for the community”, she raised concerns about how the interim licence was awarded.

“Liberal incompetence almost put an end to Glebe Markets,” Ms Scott said. “After what we saw with the John Barilaro saga, the government have got questions to answer about how this contract was awarded.”

The Glebe Markets have been operating for over three decades. Picture: Julian Andrews.

It is also understood Thursday’s announcement of the interim licence was met with shock by some stallholders and applicants, who say they had been left in the dark regarding the government’s decision process.

Independent market operator John Chivers, who was one of the applicants seeking to continue Glebe Markets, raised issues with the government’s transparency.

“Questions need to be asked around the transparency of the decision and in particular awarding the caretaker role for a 12-month period and without consultation or questions being directed to other operators who have expressed interest,” Mr Chivers said.

“We hope that for the stallholders and community the decision to grant a 12-month interim contract is not a bad decision.

The Glebe Markets. Picture: Julian Andrews.

“(But) it may have been a positive step for the Department to have contacted and spoken to the stallholders for their opinion as they are the heart of what was known as the Glebe Markets.”

In a statement, Education Department executive director for asset activations Claire Beattie said the interim licence would ensure continuity and certainty for both the community and stallholders of the markets.

“Schools are at the centre of our communities, and the Department supports markets on school sites given they are community assets,” she said.

“The markets have been a mainstay at Glebe Public School for more than 30 years and play a vital role in bringing the school and wider Glebe community together.”

A Department of Education spokeswoman also hit back at accusations about a lack of proper process.

“The decision to award the interim contract to Organic Food Markets to manage the markets at Glebe Public School was a process carried out entirely by the Education Department and in accordance with relevant procurement procedures. To suggest otherwise would be false,” she said.

“After the previous operator confirmed it did not want to extend their lease for a short period of time, the Department of Education approached other market operators currently working within the City of Sydney where Glebe Public School is located and who also have an existing licence to operate a market on a school site.

“Following assessment of suitable providers, Organic Food Markets was engaged on an interim arrangement … (and) an Expression of Interest tender process will start shortly to identify a long-term operator for the markets at Glebe Public School.”