9 April 2007

Winter Markets by the Lake?

| johnboy
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The ABC brings word that the big brains at the NCA are trying to get up a twilight winter market down by the lake.

NCA spokeswoman Majdie Hordern says it is a concept that is familiar in European cultures during the Northern Hemisphere’s winter months.

“They’re a real occasion for towns and cities to create a gathering centre or a focal point for residents and tourists alike,” she said.

“It’s … an opportunity for people to rug up and enjoy the outdoors on a crisp winter night and eat roasted chestnuts and drink mulled wine.”

I can see how this would work in a city based on foot traffic and public transport with a genuine focal point, three things which do not apply to Canberra.

But are we really going to get in our cars to be cold in the dark and buy the same old crap sold at all the other markets?

And why only do it when it’s cold?

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As a stall holder myself from time to time I would not be going to any night markets with my goods I’m afraid. Too cold, too much time and energy needed to set up/pack up/take home and no guarantee of any financial return at all given that the rest of the population will be home in front of their fires/ecologically sound heat source of some kind, like I will be!! If the NCA took the time to canvas potential stall holders, I think they would can the idea very swiftly. It’s hard enough to run a stall when you are making a profit and it’s inside or at least under cover. Outside, in Canberra, in winter AND near the lake, where the cold winds blow coldest, a really, really bad idea!

Now Gorman House markets, that’s another issue completely. Mostly undercover, been around for a long time, reliable and friendly. Great coffee and food and beautiful hawthorn trees in the courtyards. Heritage building. My idea of a great place for a stall or just to relax on Saturday.

PS Public liability insurance for a stall holder can be obtained for under $200 for a year which isn’t outrageous. You don’t have to sell much to recoup. Best rates I have found are at Rural and General.

L

I don’t think another market in Canberra is a bad idea, and the foreshore is a nice spot for it. But I doubt people are going to turn up in the numbers needed on a cold winter night. And if it fails over winter, I doubt they’ll give it a try in summer.

The Kingston markets are great because they’re indoors (suits all weather) and well known, and they have strict policies on what stall holders can sell. But they’re so popular that it can be hard to get a place.

The Hall markets are popular, and also have policies on what can be sold to ensure there’s a focus on crafts and produce. But being outdoors mostly, it’s hot and dusty in summer and dead in winter. And they’re only on once a month.

Gorman House is good because they have a central location, indoor places for bad weather, and also lots of good quality craft and produce stallholders. But stallholders need to arrange their own insurance (according to the info on their website) which can be off-putting.

And the Trash n Treasure markets are a whole different thing – the kind of things for sale means a very different demographic, and I’ve heard you have to turn up at the crack of dawn to get a place at some of these markets.

If only it were so clear cut. The NCA also have veto over certain kinds of development in the rest of Canberra, so there’s a kind of dual-jurisdiction situation (this is what happened with the GDE route, and the reason that Fairbairn Dr is still a two-lane road).

The night market idea might work – need a big bon fire to keep everyone warm!

jgangsta – HERE HERE!!!

Further to what JB said – NCA vs Local Government is some kind of grand experiment.

NCA control the federal/national bits of Canberra
LA control the rest

NCA allowed the shops/offices at the airport – brand warehouse etc. even though the LA had approved a development at Fyshwick (however dubious the story appears upon further investigation) – they can throw stones at each other.

Lol you must have been under a large rock to miss that one 😛

There’s one thing that the very successful and highly regarded Eumundi or Mindle Night Markets (Darwin) have that Canberra LBG Night Markets will never have, and that’s they’re located in the tropics.

Me, I’ll be warm and toasty at home.

National Capital Authority.

Funded by the Federales, controlled by the Liberals, and responsible for the national bits of Canberra.

What is the NCA? Before this post, I assumed it was the planning arm of the local government. Surely you don’t mean it is a Federal agency in competition with the ACT?

My mind is already so boggled at the inanities in ACT politics and this is just increasing the bogglingness…

Boom! Damn, my head exploded.

you guys don’t get out or around much hey? (i also mean the cinemas when i say that too – yeah, dvd at home is good, but so is going out to the movies!) loved going to markets while in europe, far bleaker and colder (especially when there was no snow) than anything canberra can dish out – lovely to be out and about. it’s not about buying stuff, it’s about experience, being in the community, enjoying pretty lights, Gluewhein, lovely food. this will be great if it’s done right.

Global warming on a local scale!

la mente torbida10:51 am 10 Apr 07

I hear they will redirect the hot air from parliament so we can experience the night markets in a more tropical environment.

Hmmm, twilight in winter. That would make for, oh, about 5 minutes?

Is it really the NCA’s responsibility to be delving into setting up markets in the twilight hours ?

I would consider it more appropriately fitting under the wing of the Legislative Assembly – or is this yet another hairbrained scheme at undermining any vestige of local government coordination ?

I’m widely noted for my distaste at the current government, but unfortunately I must accept that if they continue to be undermined that I can’t place all my blame in them.

i was conned into going to rugby ONCE.

june. friday night.

never again.

this plan for commerce will be a glorious failure.

I think the idea is same stuff, different atmosphere. I’d give it a go anyway.

If there was a bus doing a loop from civic to the lake it would be good.

Oh and Hall Markets and Old Bus Depot markets are hand made goods only… (Hall now allow small amounts of commercial goods) So please explain to me which bargain store i’d find that stuff ?

Whats the difference between Markets having the same stuff all the time and a shop which sells the same stuff EVERY day… ? I cant believe you guys cant even go out there and support the everyday people instead of giving all your money to the big companies who dont even need it.

Even if it was different crap, same marketeers, I’d have trouble getting out there.

amen. same crap, different market.

Umm, yes.

Yes I have.

Some stalls have interesting and unique products.

A lot of them are selling the same crap you can get at any other markets or even a bargain store.

Between the markets you mentioned I’d be surprised if this new market has more than 5% anything new.

buy the same old crap sold at all the other markets?

Johnboy – ever been to the regular markets ?? Such as Hall and Bus Depot, and the Trash n Treasures ?? This is quite often the only way some people can actually make a living. Plus you can get some amazing bargains or pick up a unique gift for someone.

Night markets in Winter is not a very good idea – perhaps they should just support the current markets already in place, help make those bigger and better than they already are !?!

Too bloody cold.

i’d go – i looooove mulled wine and hot jam donuts.

and nca will have to retain a bit of parking if they want people to actually go to the lake.

I think its a great idea, and would attend for sure. Good on the NCA for coming up with some ideas that make Canberra less dull.
The work that they have done improving the lake surroundings and our National areas is fantastic, and i think things would be far worse if the ACT Government were in control of making our City more liveable & sustainable.

Here’s the average climate in our foreshore area:
http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/averages/tables/cw_070099.shtml

So for a night market in winter, we could expect to deal with temps around 5C. Brrrrr!

Growling Ferret2:11 pm 09 Apr 07

Twilight winter market? Why? Its winter and no-one goes outside in winter unless the have to! Hall Markets, Bus Depot Markets, Farmers Markets, Trash and Treasure already all exist. Why would anyone want to go shopping next to the windy lake, especially once its got cold and dark?

These people are unrepresentative of the Canberra population – there thoughts are out of touch with the community, and the sooner that the NCA is disbanded and the annual funds spent keeping these arsemonkeys employed is redeployed to something of use (perhaps building government housing in the Kingston Foreshore?) the better….

I think it would work better in summer, when people don’t have to rug up. But hey, at least someone’s trying to think up another way for Canberrans to get out and do stuff. And I do like mulled wine.

I have a life-threatening allergy to chestnuts and prefer beer.
-I shall have to pass on this one.

Why do I have this vague feeling that people at the NCA have not got much to do, so come up with these schemes merely to justify their existence?

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