By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
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TRADERS at Dandenong Market claim that high rents and a depressed trade are driving them to the wall.
Greater Dandenong Council gave the 146-year-old market a $26 million facelift three years ago. It is expecting a $1.9 million return in 2012-13 with a new board about to take over. But some of the market’s 270 vendors are struggling.
A cake and pastisserie vendor told the Weekly he was in rent arrears and could be forced out within two weeks.
He says rents are too high for him to survive – his is $1600 a month (for 12 days of trading). “A lot of store owners aren’t happy – a lot are behind on their rent.
“It’s been driving me nuts. I can sustain a couple of blows but I was doing more trade at Berwick market than I do here.”
He said there were not enough customers, the market was not effectively advertised and the restrictions had crippled his business.
Among the rules are prohibitions on the trader selling coffee, pies, sausage rolls and, until recently, soft drinks.
On the other hand, he claims market manager Savills had told him he wouldn’t have direct competitors selling fresh cakes and biscuits for three years, yet competitors had opened nearby.
Last week, the Weekly asked for a latte at the market’s Whynot Bakery and was told it had to be flavoured with vanilla. The bakery was not allowed to sell it straight.
Several shop spaces are vacant near the bakery.
Dandenong Market Deli, once selling its Polish and Hungarian meats from a van at the market, had been forced to move to a higher-rent shop. It was expected to close last Saturday.
Several traders told the Weekly their rent of more than $1000 for three days of trade a week was too much.
A fruiterer said the market didn’t seem to have the drawing power of 10 years ago. “It’s not what it was. The people who come here aren’t the same. Lots are rude and there’s more thieving.”
The council this month voted to adopt a corporate board to oversee the market rather than a special council committee.
The present arrangement of Savills as manager, overseen by council officers, had “regularly led to confusion and tension over the past two years”, a council report stated this month. There were problems caused when councillors intervened in dispute resolution, it stated.
Cr John Kelly, who will help select the board’s directors, said who would continue to manage the market would be up to the board. “They may decide to run it themselves or they may have another manager or Savills.”
He said it was “always debatable” among traders whether Savills had done a good job. “There are more than 200 traders there – they’re all experts on everything. Some like to have a kick at us.
”I acknowledge people are struggling but I have a business too – we’re all struggling. People closing at the market has been happening for 140 years.”
Cr Maria Sampey, who has intervened on behalf of disgruntled market vendors, said she was worried by high rents and management at the market. “I’m hoping there will be no more Savills. The management make it difficult for traders,” she said.
Savills Management general manager Kerry Lodge didn’t comment.
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