Hobart City Council says the state’s current coronavirus restrictions make a scaled-down Salamanca Market untenable

There were hopes a modified version of Hobart’s major drawcard could be up and running this month, but the push has been halted due to the way restrictions are enforced. Read more >>

THE push for a smaller version of Salamanca Market has been thwarted, with the Hobart City Council declaring it unviable because of coronavirus restrictions.

The council last week announced the long-running market could return as soon as this month under a modified format to comply with public gathering restrictions.

But that was before Premier Peter Gutwein announced that the number of people allowed at outdoor gatherings could not exceed 500 for the time being.

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And with the State Government confirming that there would not be an exemption for the event, council has effectively ruled out the market returning under the current rules.

General manager Nick Heath said council had hoped the new maximum density requirement of one person per two square metres would apply to the market, rather than the 500 person limit.

“That would have allowed for up to 1400 patrons to attend a spaced out market over a 200-metre long site under a modified format,’’ he said.

“However, we have now received confirmation that the maximum gathering limit of 500 people would apply and would include all stallholders, staff and volunteers.

“Unfortunately, the market would not be viable for stallholders under these current restrictions.”

The market has not been held since March, when the coronavirus pandemic first started to loom in Tasmania.

More than 140 stallholders had expressed interest in being involved with a scaled-down event.

Salamanca Market Stallholders Association commitee member Graeme Young said the market needed to be running in some form as soon as possible.

Owner of Wood on Salamanca, Graeme Young of Margate is unhappy that he and other stall holders don't know when they can come back and trade. Picture: Zak Simmonds

But he said the current rules meant only a small number of stalls would be able to operate, leading to questions about viability.

“It is unclear as to why the State Government is seeking to hold the market back with no COVID cases in the last 48 days and an understandable reluctance to open borders to states experiencing COVID cases,’’ he said.

The SMSA said for some stallholders, the market was their only income, but that they were now on government support programs like JobKeeper or JobSeeker.

With the return of the market uncertain, the association plans to write to government to ask that JobKeeper be extended beyond September.

Director of Public Health Dr Mark Veitch said the market returning in full swing is “a little way off”. Picture: Chris Kidd

Public Health Director Mark Veitch said last week that a market like Salamanca as it was known historically would be “a little way off”.

Mr Heath said council would follow up with the government to discuss a “safe and viable pathway forward, particularly as we approach the reopening of Tasmania’s borders”.

Mr Gutwein last week announced July 24 as the date when the state’s borders would reopen, but the move is subject to Public Health advice and will be dependent on how the virus is affecting mainland states.

The decision on whether to bring down the walls will hinge on the coronavirus situation in other jurisdictions, including in Victoria where an outbreak is continuing.

The State Government has been contacted for further comment.