Christchurch food truck stoush will be decided by independent commissioner

Friday, 4 October 2024

Central Christchurch businesses are opposing a plan to increase food trucks around the Arts Centre, launching a petition in protest. Many feel the move threatens their livelihood. Juliet Speedy reports on the growing tension.

An independent commissioner will get the final say in Christchurch’s food truck stoush.

A proposal to expand the fleet of food trucks plying their trade at the Arts Centre has caused consternation in the central city business community - and sparked much debate.

City council general manager of strategy, planning and regulatory services, John Higgins, said in an email update to elected representatives that “given the high level of public interest in the proposal, it is normal practise the application be considered by a planning commissioner (most likely a barrister).”

The Arts Centre Trust applied to the Christchurch City Council for resource consent to increase the maximum number of food trucks on its site to 33, and for them to operate for up to 12 hours a day, seven days a week. The council said it wanted to limit the number to 25, to which Aldridge agreed, but a final agreement has not been reached. The Arts Centre currently has a handful of food trucks as part of a trial.

On Wednesday, Central City Business Association chairperson Annabel Turley presented to city councillors a petition, signed by almost 70 businesses and organisations, to stop all long-term funding to the trust if the food truck plan went ahead.

Many of the signatories are tenants in Riverside Market, Little High Eatery and businesses on The Terrace.

Christchurch business leaders voice opposition to Arts Centre food truck plan

City advocacy group Greater Ōtautahi on Friday weighed in on the issue, saying they were “shocked at the anti-competitive nature of the Central City Business Association’s petition”.

“Such opposition to food trucks flies in the face of all evidence on the impact of food trucks on local businesses and the city. Research has found that food trucks are beneficial both economically and socially, and that they can benefit existing businesses.”

The group called on the council to review its ratings and policies to ensure food trucks and brick-and-mortar businesses could compete on a level playing field with no rates-based advantage.

Riverside Market co-owner and director Kris Inglis said food trucks had their place at sports, music and cultural events and weekend markets, but the District Plan limited them to 10 hours per week (without a resource consent) for good reason.

Inglis urged Arts Centre boss Philip Aldridge to focus on the Arts Centre’s running costs rather than try to generate more income by adding food trucks.

Press editor Kamala Hayman opined in her Friday newsletter that, while the Arts Centre needed to find new ways to meet its costs, they must not come at the expense of the city centre, including the jewel of Riverside Market.

“Perhaps if the Arts Centre wishes to have more food outlets for the growing number of visitors, these cafes and bars should be given space within its buildings and charged the same overheads as any other bricks and mortar outlet,” Hayman said.

Aldridge said earlier he did not think food trucks were a threat to the rest of central Christchurch’s hospitality industry, saying the city was growing and needed more options.

“This is a community centre and food trucks have been at The Arts Centre for decades. At least seven of the food businesses at Riverside had their roots at The Arts Centre. Our offerings are complementary.”

Higgins said in his email he would keep elected members up to date on the decision and didn’t expect one until at least the end of next week “but most likely longer”.