Sun still shines on South Beach markets

The popular Sunset Markets at South Beach are set to return after Fremantle Council voted to offer the current operator an approval to operate for another season.

The multicultural food market was established by operator Georgie Adeane at Bathers Beach in 2012 before relocating to South Beach in 2015. During this time the markets have become a very popular and well-loved community event during summer months.

A five-year licence agreement, which included the City providing the waste bins free of charge and contributing $16,000 towards the hire of a generator, expired in March this year.

At a meeting last night Fremantle Council authorised the Chief Executive Officer to offer Ms Adeane a new licence to operate the markets for the 2020-21 season, based on criteria including the operator being responsible for bin hire and power supply requirements.

The council also voted to advise the current operator that following this season there would be an open and transparent process to secure an operator to run a summer market at South Beach, with criteria that reduce the annual financial contribution from the City.

Fremantle Mayor Brad Pettitt said the council’s decision was a sensible outcome.

“This is a tricky one because we absolutely acknowledge all the effort Georgie has put in to build the Sunset Markets into the great success they’ve become, but they’re also held on public land with a ratepayer subsidy and the council has a responsibility to ensure everybody has a fair opportunity to use that land,” Mayor Pettitt said.

“It’s also the case that over the past five seasons the City has supported the operation of the markets to the tune of about $30,000 a year.

“Now that the markets are an established part of the South Freo summer we feel they should be able to stand on their own two feet with less support from the City.

“For future years council will develop an open and transparent process for the market at South Beach to ensure the best outcome for the City and our ratepayers.”

Under the offer to be put to the current operator of the South Beach market the booking fee and hire fee for South Beach and Wilson Park would be waived, but the operator would be responsible for bin hire, power supply, security costs, parking management and the provision and cleaning of additional public toilets.