Little India vendors at Harris Park lobby to trade after 7pm, residents disagree

Mobile food vendors in Sydney’s Little India remain defiant about trading late despite flouting rules and clashing with residents over rubbish, saying they are boosting the economy.

Traders who operate food trucks and carts in Little India at Harris Park remain defiant about their bid to trade late despite flouting rules and clashing with residents over rubbish and noise, saying they are boosting the economy.

The feud between the community and mobile food vendors elevated this month as Parramatta Council agreed to write to the state government to change legislation that would allow the businesses to operate to 10pm in Wigram St, along with Marion St and Station St East.

Wigram St is zoned residential, meaning mobile traders have to shut at 7pm.

Mobile food cart operators such as Papa Curry owner Prince Raheja are pushing to trade later and said he did not witness problems residents complained about, such as rubbish and noise.

“I never see any kind or rubbish on the road,’’ he said.

He said he was fined four times totalling $24,000 in June but claims council officers gave him no warning or communication despite the council launching an amnesty between December and March when fines were waived.

Papa Curry Harris Park owner Prince Raheja at the food cart outside his restaurant.

Mr Raheja hit back and said traders on Wigram St were paying commercial rates despite being in a residential street where carts have taken off in popularity.

“This is also one of the good ideas to boost the economy,’’ he said.

“Everyone wants to stand outside on the street and serve food.

“(If you compare) the night life in Wigram St I think it’s busier than Church St in Parramatta CBD, so we are boosting the economy as well and giving more jobs to bring the unemployment rate down.’’

A Wigram St mobile vendor prepares for the night crowd as the sun goes down.

Wigram St Harris is zoned residential.

SK Chaat and Pani Puri Corner owner Monika Rana has also signed a petition seeking the government to change the legislation and operate after 7pm.

She was fined $6000 twice in May for opening after 7pm and like Mr Raheja said she was not aware of the rules and had not been issued a warning about trading hours despite a council information campaign.

Food Trucks Australia founder Ray Khouri wants all mobile businesses to operate after 7pm in residential zones and to see more consistent rules across NSW councils.

He acknowledges he did see filthy conditions at Harris Park and wants to educate businesses so all operators are compliant.

“For them to get in my books they’ve got to be more compliant,’ he said.

Parramatta Council has received 200 complaints from businesses and residents about waste, hooning and illegal alterations to heritage homes in Harris Park this year.

Sweta Sharma of Taj Caterers at Wigram St Harris Park.

Residents unleashed a blistering assessment on vendors and their customers.

There is the occasional waft of stale urine, and on one memorable morning, a pile of faeces to which no species of dog would ever lay claim,’’ resident David Dilley said.

Harris Park businesswoman Seema Dhawan said the problem had worsened since the government relaxed mobile food business rules during Covid when they were allowed to open to 10pm.

But now she said problems were out of control.

“As a result you’ll see structures in driveways, carparks, verandas, anywhere there is an inch of space available,’’ she said.