Deferred food van policy stirs emotions in Gracetown

The Shire’s review of its food trucks policy has exposed a rift within the normally tight-knit Gracetown community.

Fallout between the hamlet’s Gracetown-Cowaramup Bay Community group and residents pledging loyalty to the local general store played out before councillors last Wednesday night.

It came amid claims of harassment on social media and questions around the legitimacy of the community group’s leadership.

Concerns around some details of the latest mobile food vendor policy ultimately saw the item deferred for a detailed councillor workshop.

GCBC chairman Richard Muirhead claimed the local government was not adhering to its own planning guidelines because of concerns about the economic viability of the hamlet’s Gracies general store.

He said that should not be a factor and many residents wanted more options, but on Wednesday acknowledged the draft policy was “a very emotional issue”.

He again cited a GCBC survey to argue against what the Shire proposed, and questioned the implications of exclusive access for other highly valued locations in the shire like the River Mouth.

“People (in the survey) have stated they want choice,” he said.

“They want competition. They want to be able to enjoy a meal near the beach.”

The draft policy was “extremely flawed” and “set a dangerous precedent” for the whole shire, Mr Muirhead said.

However, residents supporting Gracies rubbished the GCBC survey and questioned whether Mr Muirhead’s views represented those of long-term residents.

Owner Sandra Bullied said Gracetown faced more important challenges than food vans and her business was a key part of the community.

Her landlord Ian Englert also spoke to underline the difficult trading conditions Gracies experienced between summer peaks and winter lows.

Residents didn’t want to see vendors at the beach or “jeopardise their local store,” he said.

Gracies employee Eleni Anastasopoulos questioned why the GCBC sought “to intentionally bring down the heart and soul of our town”.

People who supported Gracies faced “threats” and “childish and personal attacks” online, she claimed.

Gracetown Kite Festival organiser Elizabeth Reed, also a Gracies employee, said few people go into business in the town because of the economic challenges.

Cr David Binks moved to defer the item for a workshop to dig further into the details.

“We know other parts of the shire that will be impacted by mobile food vendors and this particular policy, and we may just need to look at the wording so some of these other areas will be covered as well,” he said.

The policy was expected to come back to the council in July.