Council's proposed policy was put on public exhibition late last year before the policy was adopted by the councillors at the March 2019 ordinary meeting. The new policy outlines that anyone wishing to hold a regular market on council land was required to apply for a licence to operate.

Gloucester was the first community to undertake the changes prompting council to put call out for market holders to apply for a licence, as well as a community organisation to take over the Gloucester Farmers Markets (being run by council at the time).

The two big players in Billabong Park are the Gloucester Farmers Markets, held every second Saturday of the month, and Gloucester Community Markets, held on the Saturday of every long weekend.

The Gloucester Business Chamber was successful in its application to take over as operator of the farmers markets, being granted a three year licence.

At this stage, Gloucester Community Markets are yet to complete the application, and in a letter to the Gloucester Advocate, committee member Ian Shaw announced its long weekend market on Saturday, October 5 will not proceed.

Both council and the committee agree they've been working together to get the markets licensed for operation, but this will take time.

The committee's concern, however, is in relation to when a long weekend falls on the second Saturday, coinciding with the farmers markets.

"The Gloucester Community Markets has operated for the last 22 years on the Saturday of long weekends at Easter, June and October," Ian states.

He continues to outline that on Easter 2020 the events will clash and the community markets will be unable to operate "on a day they have occupied for many years."

"The decision to prohibit the community markets from operating next year on what has historically been the most well attended by stallholders and hence the most lucrative for the operators, means it is highly unlikely that Gloucester Community Markets will be able to cover the increased administrative costs of insurance and other requirements," he went on to state.

When asked about the inability for two licensees to use Billabong Park on the same Saturday, council explained the new policy is designed to avoid a clash of markets on the same day, in the same location.

"This includes new markets applying to operate in the area or where existing organisers want to hold additional markets during the year," council's Deb Tuckerman said.

"If both markets are happy to operate at locations near each other on the same day, they should contact council to discuss," she said.

Gloucester Business Chamber president James Hooke said the chamber is happy to discuss the matter with the committee.

Ian stated the committee's decision on its ability to proceed will be made in October.