CONCERNS are starting to swirl surrounding the visit of food trucks to Leeton.
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Twice this year visiting food trucks have set up shop for one night each time on private property in Chelmsford Place.
The community has enjoyed the concept, flocking to try some of the tasty wares on offer.
However, not everyone is as happy. Several Leeton business owners have expressed their concern about the trucks and whether or not they are complying with all health and safety standards.
These business owners weren't prepared to speak on the record yet, but have said they will do so as a collective in this newspaper in the coming week or so.
Mayor Paul Maytom has been made aware of the concerns and investigated the legalities around the trucks setting up shop.
The approval of food vans is handled in one of two ways by local government.
Firstly they can be exempt development, which means they do not need a development application approval, if they comply with all of the development standards.
These include having the consent of the owner of the land on where they will be setting up, which has been the case in this situation, the food trucks must not estrict any vehicular or pedestrian access to or from the land or entry to any building on the land and must not cause any damage to public property on the land or adjacent land.
There are also several other conditions, meaning if they are meant, Leeton Shire Council's hands are tied in the matter and they must allow the vans to set up, having met all of the conditions.
However, if the operator intends to set up on public land, such as a road reserve, they need approval from council.
If an operator can't meet these standards they do need to apply for a development application.
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The issue business owners have, particularly those in the hospitality industry, is not any loss of trade, but the requirements and laws they need to regularly meet, rates they pay and more.
Councillor Maytom said he backed the local business owners.
"There's a lot of issues to consider here ... unfortunately in this case it does appear council's hands are tied," he said.
"It's not a cop out, it's just how it is.
"I do have some concerns and these would grow if these food trucks started coming on a more regular basis.
"At the moment it seems to be a bit of a novelty for the community and you can't begrudge them that."
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