Vans weren’t denied permit

Reports that popular Melbourne food trucks were kicked out of Docklands after complaints from other traders are false.

Last month, The Age reported that the council had not issued new permits to food trucks Gumbo Kitchen and Beatbox and that local businesses had complained about the trucks.

The food trucks had been a popular Friday lunch option, attracting queues of office workers and visitors each week.   

The article implied that jealous local businesses had driven the vans out of town and that Docklands had shot itself in the foot.

It attracted more than 100 online reader comments, with many people deploring the fact that something so successful had been chased out of Docklands.

However, the food vans were not denied a permit to trade in Docklands. In fact, no application had been made for a new permit.

According to a City of Melbourne spokesperson, the vans had operated under a short-term permit issued to Places Victoria and Utopian Folk as part of a temporary activation project in Docklands.

Utopian Folk is a group commissioned by Places Victoria to activate Harbour Esplanade.

The spokesperson said the original permit was from July to August and was extended until October 31 at the permit-holders’ request.

She said after this permit had expired Places Victoria and Utopian Folk had not applied for a new one.

The suggestion that council had not approved a new permit on the grounds that local traders had complained was false.

Complaints made by Docklands traders, and Docklands News understands that there was at least one, have had no bearing on the fact the vans are no longer allowed to operate in Docklands.