By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
DANDENONG Market traders have won a $100,000-plus rental concession after a public campaign over their financial struggles.
In a letter to traders last Friday, the market’s chairwoman Julie Busch said the board would drop plans for a 4 per cent annual rent increase in September, forgoing more than $100,000 of income.
“The board will not be proceeding with this increase and as such no rental increase will be applied for this period,” she stated.
Ms Busch also announced that Greater Dandenong Council — the market owners — had endorsed the board’s wish for an extra $100,000 to boost advertising of the market over the next two months.
In a bid to increase customer numbers, the board has also planned to commit more funds for marketing in the 2013-14 financial year, Ms Busch stated.
The letter comes after the board, which the council appointed late last year, met traders in the past month and took study tours of other Melbourne markets.
Last month, traders, who claimed they were financially crippled at the market, campaigned for a strike.
More than 80 general merchandise traders also petitioned for a rate reduction backdated to last July.
In last week’s letter, Ms Busch reiterated the board’s focus “on these matters” was on long-term sustainability rather than “meeting short-term demands”.
Fruit and vegetable sellers at the market also complained to the Journal last week about slowing trade, soaring rent and customer parking problems.
While there was no mention of a parking plan in last Friday’s letter, Ms Busch stated “an increase in the range of three-hour parking spots” was on the board’s agenda.
“That will bring the number of parking infringements down, but that’s not ready to be decided upon yet.”
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