Last-minute effort to save Beckley Park Market

THE land managers of Corio’s Beckley Park are scrambling to avoid permanent closure of the weekly Saturday market at the site after tenants Geelong Greyhound Racing Club (GGRC) announced the markets would cease operation.

The Beckley Park Committee of Management has criticised the club’s decision to pull the pin on the market on July 2, with secretary manager Bob Barry stating the committee was given little warning and amounted to a “virtual breaking of their licence”.

“We’re extremely disappointed that the greyhound club gave us virtually no time before it planned to close the market… three-and-a-half weeks,” he said.

Mr Barry said the club was three years into a 10-year contract and the committee had engaged lawyers to advise on what its legal options were.

As this newspaper went to press, the committee was awaiting a response from the club to correspondence sent through its lawyers.

“We’ll have an answer within the next seven days,” Mr Barry said.

“Following our advice from greyhounds, we’ll see if the Beckley Park Committee of Management can keep the market open until we find a new licensee.

“We have three expressions of interest from organisations who may wish to take over the market, we’ll be meeting with one this week; we’ll see where that
leaves us.”

GGRC general manager Ray Bartolo said the club would be able to comment further on the future of the market later in the week, but since the COVID-19 pandemic and associated shutdowns it had been been losing money.

“These losses have been significant and our club is determined to focus on animal welfare as a priority,” he said.

Established more than 45 year ago, an average of 150 stall holders operate from the site each week selling produce, gourmet food, flowers, homewares, plants and clothing.

“People rely on this market, it’s not just a hobby, it’s an income, source of food and produce… particularly for those in the north of Geelong,” Mr Barry said.