Food stall survives as council reconsiders strip laws

WINCHELSEA’S “honest and free” food stand will continue to operate following a groundswell of local support, while Surf Coast Shire council will refine its nature strip rules to avoid future conflicts.

The council has frozen an infringement notice issued to the stand’s founders and will consider the initiative as an exemplar of productive uses for streetside land in developing a new nature strip policy.

The stand had come before the council in April when a petition urged councilors to rescind a fine issued due to a breach of current local laws, which ban structures on nature strips.

The Honest and Free stand sits beside Barwon Terrace Road in Winchelsea and provides fresh produce and other food items free to community members.

Local growers are encouraged to drop off their own excess plant yields as a donation to their neighbours.

Councillors agreed with petitioners that the stand was a positive for Winchelsea and should inform nuances to new bylaws.

“This petition really showed the importance of this honest and free stand,” Winchelsea Ward councillor Heather Wellington said.

“It’s a lovely idea and has brought out a lot of community spirit, and people were really concerned when it appeared it was going to become a victim of our existing nature strip policy.

“I think councillors will agree that it’s something that we should be moving towards, not moving away from.”

Cr Mike Bodsworth also praised the food program and agreed the council should permit similar ideas.

“It’s about sharing food, helping with cost-of-living pressures and a sense of community. There’s everything to love about this,” Cr Bodsworth said.

Under a resolution at last week’s meeting, the council has referred the notice to its chief executive officer Robyn Seymour, who will consider whether to enforce it upon completion of the policy.

The council’s nature strip policy is under review, and an officer’s report indicated that the petition and joint letters related to the stand would form part of its community engagement.

Councillors agreed their new policy should allow for positive initiatives that don’t unduly impact their environment, such as similar food stalls, community book libraries or mulch donations.

Officers are due to present a draft policy update “in the upcoming months”.