Van vendors create new layout trial

Karratha food van operators have enlisted the help of a local traffic management company to create a revised pop-up truck layout to improve safety at Dreamer’s Hill. The new design was led by vendors and drafted in consultation with Pilbara Traffic Management after the City of Karratha proposed changes to the number of food vendors allowed at each approved location. It features a one-way system with designated car parking zones and a segregated van area to keep pedestrians and cars separate. The Fat Budda food van owner David Moir said the trial had been going exceptionally well since it began on June 4. “The whole point of it is to prove to the City that we can firstly manage ourselves and secondly fit more than the three to five vans up there at any one time that they are suggesting, because that’s not what the community wants, the community wants us together,” he said. “We managed to fit up to 10 vans up there last weekend and keep all the cars completely segregated from the customers, and it was really good, so we are just hoping the City can see that it can be done on a larger scale and are happy to embrace the effort that we have gone to to prove that it can be done.” Pilbara Traffic Management designed the layout and provided equipment, with planner Marianne Smith saying it was much safer than before. “What we’ve done is we have actually segregated areas so that you don’t really have pedestrians and kids running around traffic as much,” she said. “It is good community spirit with those guys and they are all on board. “They want to keep it going and they are willing to do anything it takes and take time out of their own busy lives to help do the traffic control and make sure it runs smoothly without any hassles or problems.” The City of Karratha said Dreamer’s Hill attracted a high volume of mobile traders and customers which posed traffic and pedestrian hazards. “The revised layout and traffic management plan has not been presented to the City for review, however the site has been assessed in great detail as part of the policy review process,” the City said. “The City does not intend to shut down Dreamer’s Hill, however mobile trading needs to form part of a balanced and sustainable business sector.” A draft policy will be presented to the council at its June meeting.