By Taylah Eastwell
Cardinia Shire Council have vowed to work with the Cockatoo Country Market committee to reach a resolution on the future location of the popular monthly market.
Council deferred a decision on the future location of the market at its meeting on Monday 19 April, instead requesting officers work with the organising committee to ensure the safe ongoing operation of the twilight and regular markets, including any suggestions for alternative locations.
An assessment will be undertaken of the regular market to inform Council of traffic management options that may alleviate concerns, and investigations will be carried out at the market’s usual Pakenham Road site to better manage the event, including signage and line marking.
The decision comes after the Cockatoo Country Market collected 648 signatures to save the much-loved community market after council withdrew permission for the market to operate at the Cockatoo Community Complex late last year.
President of the Cockatoo Country Market committee Karen Benson told the Star Mail the committee was informed just before its December market that an issue had been raised with the Pakenham Road location.
According to Ms Benson, Cardinia Shire Council cited parking and traffic concerns as the reason behind the withdrawal of permission to operate the market at the site.
“They did not want us blocking off the car park, and there was concern that it is on a major arterial road and wanted to minimise the amount of people crossing that road and doing U-turns,” she said.
Cardinia Shire Council Infrastructure Services Manager Andrew Barr told the Star Mail in February that council had “some concerns about traffic management and safety for market goers”.
Gembrook MP Brad Battin started a petition urging Cardinia Shire Council to secure a permanent all-weather location in Cockatoo for the market which was available for signing at the 6 February market.
The petition was presented to Council earlier this year, but a decision is yet to be made over the future home for the market.
Cardinia Shire Council Ranges Ward councillor Jeff Springfield said the 648 signatures showed a “substantial amount of community interest in the continuation of this market”.
Cr Springfield noted the Cockatoo Country Market committee’s “dismay at this evolution of events”, given there “has been no direct safety issues in the past” at the Pakenham Road location.
“It is a great market and has a lot of community benefit,” Cr Springfield said.
“It is not the officers thoughts or feelings to stop the market from happening. Our interests, as a whole, is to see the continuation of this but continued in a safe and productive manner for everyone involved.
The next Cockatoo Country Market will run as per usual however traffic management assistance will be provided from council to meet safety requirements.
Cr Springfield assured that council’s intention was not to stop the community market but to ensure it can proceed in a safe and sustainable manner.
“It is my great hope and I have faith that we will get to a great result in the end,” he said.
