Food van trial set to spice up Brisbane St Mall
Published on 04 January 2019
The City of Launceston will tomorrow call for expressions of interest from food van operators to set up shop in the newly refurbished Brisbane Street Mall.
A one-month pilot in February could see two food vans operating in the Mall five days a week, from Sunday through to Thursday.
Under the trial, food vans could operate from 11am to 4pm each Sunday and between 11am and 7pm, Monday to Thursday.
City of Launceston General Manager Michael Stretton said the pilot would offer opportunities to both businesses and residents, with take-away food providing the perfect nexus for people to spend time in the space, eating and socialising.
Mr Stretton said mobile food operations would be selected based on criteria including quality customer service, quick and affordable food, and points of difference from other businesses in the area. Given an existing coffee vendor already operates in the Mall, trial participants will only be permitted to offer beverages other than coffee.
Mr Stretton said the success of the pilot would be gauged by feedback from the general public, a direct survey to Mall stakeholders and ongoing consultation with mobile food vendors.
"Everyone already knows the success of Eat Street, which has been very popular, and I would anticipate that a similar set-up — albeit much smaller — would be welcomed by the public in the Brisbane Street Mall," Mr Stretton said.
"There's definitely a belief among stakeholders that increasing and diversifying food options in a location like the Brisbane St Mall, particularly on weekends, will spur engagement and activity in the CBD," Mr Stretton said.
"By extending the option to 7pm on a weeknight Monday through to Thursday, we believe it will provide more variety and access to food late into the afternoon and early evening, with many food outlets in the area already closing mid-afternoon or between 5.30 and 6.30pm."
Mr Stretton said if the trial proved to be a success, a permanent licence could be considered, similar to the current licence arrangement with Aroma's Coffee Van in Civic Square.
Details of the expressions of interest process will be available on the Council's website at www.launceston.tas.gov.au from Monday, January 7, with submissions closing on Friday 18th January at 2pm.