Draft Footpath Trading Policy

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Consultation has concluded

This community engagement has now closed. Thank you to those who provided feedback. Your comments will now be considered in finalizing the Footpath Trading Policy and developing guidelines. It is anticipated the Footpath Trading Policy will be presented to Council for endorsement in August 2018.

Across the month of June, Community feedback was invited on the new draft Footpath Trading Policy, which covers the management of permits for both outdoor dining, and the display of merchandise on footpaths within the City of Unley (as required under section 222 of the Local Government Act 1999).

Businesses are vital to our City's vibrancy and cosmopolitan lifestyle and an eclectic mix of professional services, retail, cafes and dining experiences make the City of Unley a great place live, visit and to do business. We aim to ensure the City of Unley actively encourages, promotes and supports business within the area to support a thriving local economy.

It is recognised that many business operators wish to utilise the footpath space in front of their business for the purposes of displaying merchandise and outdoor dining, along with promoting their business and adding to the attractiveness and ambience of the City. At the same time, Council must ensure that any such use also maximises safety and the accessibility needs of pedestrians.

Council has developed a Draft Footpath Trading Policy, which combines and streamlines the existing Outdoor Dining Policy, and Permits for Business Purposes Policy, to improve ease of use and relevance for local businesses.

The Draft Policy outlines Council's objectives and principles in considering footpath trading, to ensure that displays and activities on footpaths are established, operated and maintained in an appropriate manner and our processes align to legislative requirements.

The Draft Policy proposes trading be undertaken in 3 zones:

  • Walkway Zone
  • Trading Activity Zone (area for business merchandising and outdoor dining)
  • Kerbside zone.

It is proposed that, ideally, the Walkway Zone is located against the building line to ensure a continuous accessible path of travel and to provide the best possible guidance line for all users including persons with vision impairment. However, it is acknowledged that in some locations in the City of Unley this may be impractical to achieve, so the Policy provides an alternative arrangement by considering the placement of business trading along the building line provided there is a continuous accessible path of travel for the length of the block. This reinforces the need to ensure that the walkway is in a consistent location and safe and predicable for all pedestrians. This new option meets with disability access requirements.

The feedback received as part of this consultation will assist in the finalisation of the Draft Policy, as well as inform the development of associated Footpath Trading Operating Guidelines which will assist with the assessment and ongoing management of Footpath Trading Permits. It is intended the Guidelines will include more detailed information on matters such as safety, seating criteria, setbacks, design and appearance, screens and blinds, and planter boxes. The Guidelines will also be developed in a user-friendly format to better assist local businesses in their consideration of footpath trading.

Please note that there may still be instances where outdoor dining and/or business trading will not be possible, due to a range of safety limitations. In these instances Council will work with the business to find alternative solutions.

More Information

For more information please refer to our Document Library, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other tools on the right hand side of your screen.

This community engagement has now closed. Thank you to those who provided feedback. Your comments will now be considered in finalizing the Footpath Trading Policy and developing guidelines. It is anticipated the Footpath Trading Policy will be presented to Council for endorsement in August 2018.

Across the month of June, Community feedback was invited on the new draft Footpath Trading Policy, which covers the management of permits for both outdoor dining, and the display of merchandise on footpaths within the City of Unley (as required under section 222 of the Local Government Act 1999).

Businesses are vital to our City's vibrancy and cosmopolitan lifestyle and an eclectic mix of professional services, retail, cafes and dining experiences make the City of Unley a great place live, visit and to do business. We aim to ensure the City of Unley actively encourages, promotes and supports business within the area to support a thriving local economy.

It is recognised that many business operators wish to utilise the footpath space in front of their business for the purposes of displaying merchandise and outdoor dining, along with promoting their business and adding to the attractiveness and ambience of the City. At the same time, Council must ensure that any such use also maximises safety and the accessibility needs of pedestrians.

Council has developed a Draft Footpath Trading Policy, which combines and streamlines the existing Outdoor Dining Policy, and Permits for Business Purposes Policy, to improve ease of use and relevance for local businesses.

The Draft Policy outlines Council's objectives and principles in considering footpath trading, to ensure that displays and activities on footpaths are established, operated and maintained in an appropriate manner and our processes align to legislative requirements.

The Draft Policy proposes trading be undertaken in 3 zones:

  • Walkway Zone
  • Trading Activity Zone (area for business merchandising and outdoor dining)
  • Kerbside zone.

It is proposed that, ideally, the Walkway Zone is located against the building line to ensure a continuous accessible path of travel and to provide the best possible guidance line for all users including persons with vision impairment. However, it is acknowledged that in some locations in the City of Unley this may be impractical to achieve, so the Policy provides an alternative arrangement by considering the placement of business trading along the building line provided there is a continuous accessible path of travel for the length of the block. This reinforces the need to ensure that the walkway is in a consistent location and safe and predicable for all pedestrians. This new option meets with disability access requirements.

The feedback received as part of this consultation will assist in the finalisation of the Draft Policy, as well as inform the development of associated Footpath Trading Operating Guidelines which will assist with the assessment and ongoing management of Footpath Trading Permits. It is intended the Guidelines will include more detailed information on matters such as safety, seating criteria, setbacks, design and appearance, screens and blinds, and planter boxes. The Guidelines will also be developed in a user-friendly format to better assist local businesses in their consideration of footpath trading.

Please note that there may still be instances where outdoor dining and/or business trading will not be possible, due to a range of safety limitations. In these instances Council will work with the business to find alternative solutions.

More Information

For more information please refer to our Document Library, frequently asked questions (FAQs) and other tools on the right hand side of your screen.