Redlands Coast Chamber of Commerce
EVERYONE loves the idea of a bustling street fair, stallholders selling local goods, food trucks serving up dinner, kids running about with ice creams, and live music filling the air.
It sounds simple enough: close off a street, set up some stalls, and let the community come together.
But putting on a street fair in the Redlands is anything but simple.
Behind the scenes is a tangle of red tape, weeks of preparation, and thousands of dollars in fees before a single tent goes up.
For example, if an organiser applies for a new market application, they’re looking at costs of around $2000 – this includes an urgent processing fee and the annual licence.
That’s a hefty price tag for someone who may only want to hold one or two events a year.
From there comes the paperwork: an Event Management Plan, Emergency Management Plan, Risk Assessment, event site maps with evacuation routes, and proof of public liability insurance.
Depending on the event, Council may also require a Noise Management Plan, Traffic Management Plan, safety certificates, and sometimes food or liquor permits.
And not only are organisers not dealing with just one department, but they’re also having to go back and forth with multiple different Council departments to tick all the boxes.
If a road closure is needed, things become even more complicated.
Organisers must hire an accredited traffic control company to apply for a Traffic Control Permit, prepare professional plans, and manage vehicles on the day.
These services come at a significant cost and add another layer of complexity.
Of course, these rules are in place for safety, protecting both residents and businesses.
And to be fair, Council staff do their best to accommodate organisers where they can.
But what many people don’t see is the sheer scale of effort required to meet the requirements.
The administrative work alone is just as heavy as the physical organising on the ground.
The number of forms and paperwork is tiresome for community organisations or small businesses to take on while also running their full-time operations.
Without a grant or strong financial backing, organising one often becomes a labour of love.
For some, the cost and compliance burden is so heavy it makes the idea of a simple pop-up too difficult.
What we’d really like to see is a more supportive and streamlined process – a single clear pathway with consolidated applications, reduced duplication, and requirements scaled to the size and risk of the event.
Things like capped fees and less red tape could make it easier not only for event organisers but also for Council officers, saving everyone time and energy.
Really, we’re all working towards the same goal: creating more opportunities for people to come together.
We don’t pretend to have the perfect answer, but it’s clear something needs to change.
