By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Market traders have upped the ante in their fight with management, demanding a 50 per cent rate reduction backdated to last July.
Scott Watson has collected signatures from 85 of the market’s 110 general merchandise hall traders on a petition, each affirming their rent was too high and they had more customers before the market was renovated in 2009.
The petition states “we are in no position to continue paying rent at the rate charged currently”.
Mr Watson, who made less than $6000 at the market last year, was recently knocked back for rent relief.
The petition will be delivered to the market’s manager Savills, owner Greater Dandenong Council and councillors.
“I want the council to know what’s going on. We feel like we’re getting nowhere at the moment,” Mr Watson said.
The market board is investigating how the market’s rates compare to other Melbourne markets amid traders’ claims that Dandenong’s are the most expensive.
Councillor and board member Maria Sampey was shocked by the extent of the traders’ demands.
“No one’s getting turfed out of the market for not paying their rent.”
She said she needed to work out why traders were failing.
“I’d like to know whether some of these businesses are viable. I mean there’s only so many T-shirts that can be sold,” she said.
“[Scott Watson] sells cards at $1.50 each. How much are you going to make with that? Compare that to Whynot bakery selling Lebanese foods and it’s chock-a-block, it’s always busy.”
Cr Sampey said she, with the support of other councillors, urged the recently appointed board to work out the long-running stand-off between Savills and traders.
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