Harris Park: Row over food trucks in Little India opening after 7pm

Mobile food traders in Sydney’s Little India could be allowed to extend business hours but have been warned to stop ‘bitching’ about copping fines for illegal activities. Read the latest.

Wigram St, Harris Park, is zoned as residential but is full of food vendors.

Little India mobile food traders could be allowed to extend trading after 7pm but have been warned to “stop bitching” about copping fines when they flout rules that clash with frustrated Harris Park residents.

Parramatta Labor councillor Paul Noack’s successful but amended motion on Monday night implored the council to lobby the state government to change legislation and allow the mobile food businesses such as trucks and carts to operate until 10pm in residential zones.

Independent councillor Lorraine Wearne blasted Cr Noack’s motion as a “big mistake” before she successfully requested it change so the trading extension would only be restricted to Marion, Station St East and Wigram streets at Harris Park instead of the whole local government area.

“I am not a fan of food trucks – I don’t think they’re a good idea and I certainly don’t think they’re a good idea everywhere without limit,’’ she said.

Paul Noack. Picture: John Appleyard

The move to potentially allow trading to 10pm has upset residents who have complained about noise and garbage the food carts generate.

The council undertook a three-month amnesty when fines were frozen between December and March but did not issue fines until May.

Chief executive Gail Connolly said the council had received about 200 complaints from businesses and residents about waste, hooning, illegal alterations to heritage homes and light pollution since the beginning of the year.

Cr Wearne said: “If in fact there was a six-month amnesty and people were given warning about fines then they shouldn’t be bitching about fines now because they should have known they were going to get them, quite frankly.’’

“I warn you – don’t anybody come grizzling to me about fines when they do something that’s not legal and they’ve been warned. You’ve been warned – pay attention.’’

Labor’s Patricia Prociv defended residents battling mobile food businesses, which had multiplied since Covid.

After the meeting she said it was “not the best outcome for residents or businesses”.

“The rest of the residents of the Parramatta LGA are excluded from potentially having food trucks operating in their area until 10pm but apparently it’s OK for the residents of Harris Park,’’ she said.

Parramatta Labor councillor Patricia Prociv.

“Harris Park has always had restaurants – there were the Greek restaurants, there were the Lebanese restaurants and now there’s Indian restaurants.

“It was a vibrant eating area 20 years ago. What has happened with the food trucks is that it’s now a not-very-clean, vibrant eating area because of the takeaway containers that are all over the street.

“The vibrancy of Harris Park does not depend on having food trucks operating 24 hours a day. Changing the legislation – you had better be careful for what you ask for.’’

Every year it costs ratepayers $154,000 more to clean Harris Park compared with other suburbs.

Peroni's Italian Restaurant at Harris Park before Indian restaurants and food trucks dominated the suburb.

Residents speak out

Cr Noack called for the extension of trading hours past 7pm so businesses could stop incurring fines after he presented a 40-signature petition to the chamber on June 24 with the support of multiple businesses – many who continue to trade past 7pm despite copping fines.

This week he said the petition had grown to more than 200 signatures.

Cr Noack said the problem centred around Wigram St being zoned residential.

Night trading at Wigram St beyond 7pm.

“This is unfair as there is not a single residential property here,’’ he said.

“They are all businesses. Due to the cost-of-living crisis most businesses are doing it tough and they are rightfully seeking a change in the current zoning.’’

But that frustrated residents who argued a change in legislation would cause more noise and litter.

Resident Ajay Dharwan said mobile food vendors did not respect residents because they lived out of the area.

“For us they’re home-related issues – for them it’s business,’’ he said.

“They can go and sleep in peace once they leave their workplace.

“We are spending our leisure time towards these issues. It’s been a constant.’’

Resident David Dilley echoed the concerns.

“I doubt the various business owners would tolerate as much in their own backyards,’’ he said.

“They no doubt are enjoying the quiet of their own homes far from their businesses.’’

He said the proliferation of carts was unregulated and caused garbage on the streets and front yards, threatened pedestrian safety and breaches of food handling.

He said there were also “questionable safety constraints with electricity cords and gas bottles, and increased noise at late-night hours, not to mention traffic issues’’ with “souped-up cars with travelling boom boxes”.

“If this trend continues it will inevitably create a dead area during the day and leave a version of the Vegas strip at night,’’ he said.

“This for the benefit of a few businessmen and to the detriment of residents.’’

Harris Park, aka Little India.

The council has fined SK Chaat and Pani Puri Corner owner Monika Rana $6000 twice in May for operating after 7pm.

Ms Rana said she was not aware of the rules and had not been issued a warning about trading hours despite the council amnesty and information campaign before that.

“At least I deserved a warning,’’ she said.

She is one of the traders who have signed a petition to trade late.

“Most of the customers we have … they cannot come to us till 7pm,’’ she said.

“Most of the customers want to enjoy (dinner) at night and have dinner.’’

SK Chaat at Harris Park operating after 7pm on June 24.

Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal said he was not aware of residents’ complaints and said Wigram St was a commercial area.

“Why are the residents not meeting us?’’ he said.

He denied mobile food businesses were noisy and said the Gordon McKinnon Lane separated Wigram St businesses and homes on Albion St.

However, he said he understood residents’ concerns if they lived beyond Wigram St.

Mr Dharwan’s yard backs on to the Mitran Da Dhaba food truck at Albion St.

The food truck does not operate after 7pm but Mr Dharwan is concerned if rules changed, it would be permitted to continue trading late until 10pm.

Little India Harris Park Business Association president Sanjay Deshwal.

Mitran Da Dhaba owner Gunashaker Senthamilselvan said the truck stopped operating at 6pm but he has signed the petition calling for longer trading hours.

“We’d love to trade more,’’ he said.

“We’re concerned (about residents) but we are not operating as a disco.’’

A Parramatta Council spokesman said it had issued 20 fines for 40 offences since a three-month amnesty ended in March when fines were waived.

Offences included operating after permitted hours, failing to comply with a development control order, unauthorised structures and development without consent.

“The City of Parramatta is proud of its diverse food scene and encourages activities that add to our lively street culture like food trucks,’’ the spokesman said.

“However, businesses must operate within the law.’’

Originally published as Harris Park: Row over food trucks in Little India opening after 7pm