Mobile seafood vendors Jim and Viv Peady have joined the chorus of people and groups criticising the Barcaldine Regional Council’s policy stance relating to itinerant traders.
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The Townsville-based couple, who trade as AllWild Seafoods and have been bringing fresh Australian seafood to 29 towns in 13 shires for the last 10 years, were refused permission to open their truck in Barcaldine at a recent special meeting, but were given the green light to keep trading in Muttaburra, Aramac, Jericho and Alpha.
It follows a decision in June to grant a permit to Charters Towers-based fruit and vegetable trader Colin Holt to trade in Jericho, but not in Muttaburra, Aramac, Barcaldine or Alpha, “due to competition with existing businesses”.
Mr Holt has since said the restriction has meant a $2000 loss per run and the possible closure of his business.
Both Mr Holt and the Peadys have asked council for a review of their decision, which is set down for debate at a special meeting on Wednesday, December 14.
In the same way that Barcaldine is integral to Mr Holt’s business, Viv Peady said once they were refused a permit to trade in Barcaldine, going to any of the other towns in the shire was a moot point.
“We have persisted in our service despite no longer making a profit in any of the smaller towns, as a courtesy to customers and the shire.
“We were able to do this by spreading our revenue from Barcaldine to cover the loss.
“Denying us a permit for Barcaldine effectively stops us from servicing the entire shire.”
After taking professional advice, Viv believed the decision had set up a monopoly trading situation, which she described as illegal, and said if the decision wasn’t reversed she and husband Jim would consider taking the matter to the Office of Fair Trading.
Barcaldine mayor Rob Chandler, who was one of two councillors voting to allow AllWild Seafoods to trade in Barcaldine when the permit was discussed, said the council didn’t make its decisions lightly and was taking the advice of officers on board.
“I’m sure council could be leaving itself open to challenges, and we’ll have to cop the consequences if that’s the case,” he said.
Cr Chandler said he couldn’t pre-empt Wednesday’s decision.
“We will all have to sit down and evaluate the reaction of the community at large and judge accordingly.
“Some of the decisions we make are very difficult. Dare I mention cluster fencing, which the Barcaldine Regional Council fought very hard to support.
“It’s now brought about a potential investment of $26m in central west Queensland.
“We stuck pretty firm in the face of considerable criticism. Some decisions have a good end result.”
Viv Peady believed the decision in their case will have an adverse outcome for the five communities in the region.
“You wouldn’t believe the amount of customers who’ve contacted us to say they’re willing to travel to other towns to support us.
“We’ve had hundreds of text messages; it’s very humbling.
“The Barcaldine butcher assures me he has no concern with us being there – he comes down and buys from us from time to time.”
Viv said she couldn’t understand why this was an issue now when they had been providing the 3500km service for 10 years without complaint, and with them regularly spending money in all the areas they service, on food, fuel, clothing, tyres and mechanical services.
“We don’t just trade in these towns, we live in them and have made friends,” she said.
“We’re originally from a small town, Carmila, south of Mackay, and we understand small towns.
“You can’t pull money out of towns and not put back.”
Cr Chandler said data sets put together by RAPAD-funded small business financial counsellor, Russell Lowry, were showing small businesses right across the west were struggling to keep their heads above water.
“That includes pubs in these small towns. There’s a lot of hurt, not just from landholders.”
When questioned whether council’s attitude was a reflection of the consequences of the severity of the drought, Cr Chandler said it was a whole combination of things.
“Is it council’s responsibility to get involved? I say it absolutely is our charter.
“We’ll be damned if we do and damned if we don’t, but we respect the views of the people objecting.”
The council will also be considering a request for a permit to trade in the region from The Prawn Hauler, based at Rollingstone above Townsville, at Wednesday’s meeting.