Queenscliff Football and Netball Club not allowed to have coffee van at homes games

A Victorian council is being labelled ‘a disgrace’ for not allowing its local sporting club to have a coffee van at home games, making it the only ground in the league without one.

Queenscliff Football and Netball Club's Laura Clarke and Ned Coffey meet with Noelle Roob of Noelle's Coffee after Queenscliff council informed the club it was not permitted to have a coffee van at the oval.

Queenscliff council will not allow its local sporting club to have a coffee van at homes games, in a decision being described as “embarrassing”.

Queenscliff Football and Netball Club previously had locally operated coffee vans at its home games, including Noelle’s Coffee, which is owned by a mother whose children play at the club.

President Ali Waight said the club brought in a coffee van to keep parents at the oval to watch their kids while also supporting a local small business.

“We have 400 participants and there is a kiosk nearby but it's a 20-minute wait for a coffee as it gets very busy,” she said.

“Otherwise you have to drive off to get a coffee.”

Ms Waight said the club received an email from the Borough of Queenscliffe on May 15 saying it was not permitted to have a coffee van operating at the oval.

“We’ve had food vans at magic round before and it’s never been an issue,” she said.

“We didn’t even think we needed a permit because we have the facility for six months of year and we maintain all the grounds.”

The club then submitted a 12-page event permit form, which included a risk-assessment plan, to council.

Ms Waight met with council officers on Monday morning but received an email by the afternoon saying the permit would not be granted.

“Everybody was quite confused,” Waight said.

“We are the only club in the Bellarine league that isn’t allowed to have a coffee van.

“It’s a bit embarrassing.”

The decision has sparked outrage within the club, with many members confused as to why other events, such as markets, the Queenscliff Music Festival and the Queenscliff Rod Run are allowed food and coffee vans but the club isn’t.

One member said on social media “that is so ridiculous … it’s truly a disgrace.”

Another said “a council completely out of touch with their own constituents.”

A Borough of Queenscliffe spokeswoman said council received a complaint from a local trader about the coffee van earlier this season.

“We understand the complaint was made because the local trader was aware of council’s local law, which requires these types of itinerant trading activities to be linked to an event that has been granted a permit,” the spokeswoman said.

“The local law had been established in 2011 in response to concerns from local traders about loss of business and the perceived advantages itinerant traders had with respect to rates, rent and business costs.”

Ms Waight said the club would still serve coffee to its parents and its volunteers.

“We can buy a coffee machine and have members run it to make a little profit for the club but we wanted to support a local trader because we get a lot of support from the community for our club,” she said.

Originally published as Queenscliff Football and Netball Club not allowed to have coffee van at homes games