By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Market will finally open on Sundays in October – but it
won’t be in time to save a stalwart stallholder who has packed up his
stands.
Scott Watson, who had been upholding a 35-year family tradition at
the market, has left, owing more than $9000 in rent and cursing the
market’s stagnant trade since it was redeveloped in 2009.
The greeting-card stallholder and 84 other general merchandise
traders last year demanded a 50 per cent across-the-board rent reduction
from market managers. Mr Watson led calls for a trader strike on the
issue.
He then made an unsuccessful application for rent relief, asking
for his $1590.61 monthly rent to be slashed to $800 “or else I will have
no other choice than leave the market”.
“Years ago, there was no one who owed money. I guess it’s just a lack of customers,” he said.
After meetings with disgruntled traders this year, the market’s
board backed down over plans for a 4 per cent rent rise this financial
year. The board says it has since spent $100,000 on promoting the
market, given away $20 vouchers and extended parking limit hours from
two to three.
Mr Watson said the voucher initiatives had revived traders’
fortunes for a “three-day hit” but an advertising blitz was needed to
attract new customers from across Melbourne.
He said the market’s main problem was the loss of an adjacent car park during the redevelopment.
“There should be free parking for at least two hours,” he said.
Board chairwoman Julie Busch said Sunday trading meant the
147-year-old market would be open four days a week and would attract new
customers.
“Across Melbourne, families now want to shop on Sundays,’’ she
said. “So we are providing traders with the opportunity to open and meet
these needs.”
When asked about the level of rental arrears and rent relief, she
said it was not appropriate to discuss “a trader rental issue”.
Greater Dandenong council, which owns the market, declined to comment.
Mr Watson will continue trading at his stall at Caribbean Gardens market in Scoresby.
