Does Brisbane need more street stalls and markets? This researcher thinks so

More street stalls and markets should be encouraged across Brisbane.

That’s the key finding of a new research paper, exploring the “social and economic” benefits of shared public spaces.

It also says trees and other greenery should be planted by council between footpaths and roads to better separate vehicles and pedestrians in the city.

The Paniyiri Greek Festival in Brisbane draws thousands of revellers to Musgrave Park to celebrate Greek culture every year.Credit: Paniyiri/Pixel Punk

“These kinds of spaces, they add quite a lot to the vitality,” urban planning associate professor, Dr Dorina Pojani, said.

“Street vendors make the city more attractive … people like them.

“The council should approve more, and if there are existing spaces that accommodate street vending they should be considered treasures and safeguarded rather than being allowed to fail.”

The University of Queensland’s School of Architecture, Design and Planning study compared street events in Brisbane – including the “suitcase rummage” on Boundary Street and a footpath market in West End – to markets in the Indian city of Nagpur.

The ‘suitcase rummage’ in Brisbane on Boundary Street in the CBD. Credit: Suitcase Rummage

Researchers spent time in both cities, observing and charting how vendors influenced pedestrian behaviour through changes to the physical landscape, sounds and smells.

It found spaces that allow residents to “activate all five senses” without becoming overly cluttered were most attractive.

“In Brisbane we have too few of these spaces and we need more of them to be able to activate all the senses, whereas in India they have maybe too much,” Pojani said.

“They need better regulation because, if it’s too much, then it gets to a point where the streetscape is saturated and people kind of start stumbling upon one another.

“Australia can learn from the Global South.”

Researches also found street vending increases safety for pedestrians, particularly at night.

The paper identifies red-tape as one of the primary barriers to increased market and street activity across Brisbane, and makes the case for reducing regulations.

West End Markets are arguably the biggest and most diverse weekly market in Brisbane.Credit: West End Markets

“Outdoor eating was not allowed in Brisbane up until the ’80s because it was considered sort of a health and safety hazard,” Pojani added.

“That’s a total shame in a place with such a beautiful climate like we have.

“In that sense, we’ve started to kind of come to our senses and realise that use of streets and sidewalks by people is good but we can do more.”

The research was published in open access journal Urban Planning.

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