Normal Van and Hooked-Up Fish and Chips go toe to toe at Shire of Augusta-Margaret River council meeting

A battle for top position at Surfers Point played out behind closed doors at a council meeting last week.

A confidential item pertaining to a dispute between local food vendors heard regular Point traders Hooked Up Fish and Chips objecting to their Tuesday night spot being handed to the Normal Van operators Rob Webster and Jessica Waldron.

Although the Shire of Augusta-Margaret River decision was made privately, councillors unanimously backed the decision favouring the newcomer.

It came after Mr Webster addressed the meeting earlier, outlining the difficulties he and his partner had bringing their food van business to fruition while waiting on the biennial Shire awarding of public licences.

“We were told it had to be equal and fair for everyone,” he said.

“The Margaret River region is expanding, it’s getting bigger.”

Mr Webster thanked Shire officers for helping the Normal Van operate occasionally at Rotary Park and in Cowaramup during the two-year wait.

The dispute occurred after public permits were recently reissued, allowing Normal Van one of the nights previously reserved for Hooked Up.

Hooked Up owner Kirk Rumball also told councillors he bought the food van partly based on the strength of its positon at Surfers Point.

During his time, investing in the business, it had developed an “international tourism reputation” and Surfers Point was an integral factor.

“Our business is now a major attraction which happens to operate out of a food van,” Mr Rumball said.

“We feel it is not ethical to be removing business from us.”

Mr Webster said access to key public locations were crucial for growing new businesses.

“If nobody has that first opportunity … if it can be objected against at all times, it gives one operator exclusive access to that spot,” he said.

“Otherwise, what is the point of going through all of this (permit application) process?”

Mr Rumball said he had invested heavily in his business during the past five years and saw an immediate downturn without ongoing full access to the Point.

The Shire operates the permit program for vendors to access Shire-vested reserves.

Similar concerns about new and outside competition were raised three years ago for tourism businesses using river and beach spots, increasingly targeted by bigger international operators lured by Margaret River’s growing profile.