Footpath trading in the City of Bayside provides trade opportunities for businesses, enhanced public spaces, and sustained, inclusive access.

Footpath trading aids the commercial viability of small businesses by increasing the area available for commercial activities. It allows them to use the area adjoining the kerb, which increases the visibility of their commercial offerings to customers. Footpath trading plays a key role in promoting retail resilience and the ability of local businesses to employ staff.

Footpath trading activates and enhances the vibrancy of the public realm by providing opportunities for people to congregate in an alfresco environment. The fact that many prefer such an environment is evident from the popularity of alfresco dining, particularly when the sun is out. The visibility promoted by footpath trading leads to a liveliness which further encourages people to meet, socialise and shop in the vicinity.

We are currently reviewing our Footpath Trading Policy and want to hear from the community about the proposed changes.

Effective regulation of footpath trading ensures that universal access to activity centres for all residents is maintained. This universal access allows all residents to equally enjoy Bayside’s village feel. The Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) legislates the requirements for universal access and has informed Bayside’s approach to footpath trading regulation.

Responsible management of footpath trading requires the balancing of a variety of competing interests. The new Footpath Trading Policy seeks to balance these interests and ensures that footpath trading aids the commercial viability and resilience of businesses, while also activating and enhancing the public realm for all residents.

• proposed changes to the draft Footpath Trading Policy
• whether to have more, less or the same amount of Footpath Trading across Bayside
• preferred areas to have Footpath Trading.

• siting requirements must comply with Disability Discrimination Act requirements.

This stakeholder assessment is a generalised understanding of sections of the community that have a connection to the project or matter. This information is used to understand the types of tools and techniques that will achieve the strongest and most effective outcomes for engagement and communication.

Impact: What level of change the stakeholder/community segment may experience as a result of the project /matter

Interest: What level of interest has been expressed or is anticipated

Influence: Reference to the IAP2 Spectrum

The tools and techniques selected for this project are informed by the project content, stakeholders and type of feedback sought. The impact of COVID-19 restricts our ability for face-to-face communication, as well as slower distribution of printed mail.

Key tools for communicating the project

• email notification to Have Your Say members
• website news stories and This Week in Bayside e-newsletter
• social media posts – organic and paid
• direct emails to key stakeholder groups, including trader and disability groups.
• face-to-face/email/phone communication with impacted stakeholders.

Key methods for gathering feedback

• online engagement through Have Your Say, including opportunity to ask questions, as well as provide feedback
• phone, post and correspondence to Economic Development Officer.

The draft Policy will be open for community and stakeholder consultation between 18 November – 16 December 2021. It is expected that Council will consider community feedback at its meeting in February 2022 and decide whether to adopt the proposed Footpath Trading Policy.

The agenda for this meeting, including the community engagement report, will be published on the Wednesday before the Council meeting via Council's website.

Project subscribers will be notified of the results of the engagement and the Council report at this time. To receive updates on this project, click on the blue 'subscribe' button at the top of this page.

All Council meetings are live-streamed via Council’s website. Interested members of the community can ask a question of this meeting or request to be heard.