Plans proposed for food truck site

A DEDICATED space for food trucks and vendors throughout the region is being proposed at the site of a decommissioned service station in Black Hill.

With experience in hospitality prior to 15 years in commercial sectors, applicant and owner of the site Jimmy Neal said he first had the idea for a devoted food truck site in 2020.

Planning to operate the venture under his Common Garage business, he said he has many ideas for how the site, located at 303 Peel Street North, will operate.

“My plan with Common Garage is bringing a lot of ideas to life as well as building a community of small like-minded hospitality businesses together to give them a home away from home,” he said.

“It’ll be a continuous evolution before hopefully turning the old milk bar section into a dining room and opening a bar for independent alcohol in the old garage where I’ll hopefully launch some brands myself.”

With the space to have three concurrent food trucks, Mr Neal said between 15 to 20 vendors have expressed interest in taking part while a regular newsletter, yet to be released, has gained 200 registrants.

The proposal has faced several objections from community members with concerns around cycling safety, and parking and waste management due to the site’s proximity to the Eastern Oval and Yarrowee Trail respectively.

In talks with the City of Ballarat to develop the venture since June 2022, Mr Neal said he hopes to clear up objections in time for an autumn opening.

“I was hoping to have something up and running by spring last year so I’m kind of at the whim of council to understand what the next steps are,” he said.

“There’s a bit of work that still needs to be done which I aim to address at the next public consultation meeting. It’s nothing I think can’t be overcome with a conversation.

“I think some of the concerns people are bringing up is when they hear food trucks, they think kebabs and fried dim sims whereas we’ve got some of the best multicultural food on four wheels around.”