Kate Coxall
15 September 2022, 9:02 PM
On Monday, the Lismore App reported on the community's response to the Lismore Car Boot Market's location change back to the Lismore Square, with hundreds of people signing a petition. You can read that story here: Lismore Car Boot Market petition campaigns to get back to The Square.
The petition's goal is for the market to be reinstated back to its former home, under the Lismore Shopping Square in the car park.
Michelle, who began the petition with her partner Ron, confirmed the petition is now up to 1500 signatures and plans to present it to Centre Management mid-next week. The online petition can be found here.
Michelle told The Lismore App "It's been exciting to see the passionate response from the community, who feel so strongly about the importance of having a regular meeting place at the Square where they can come together on market days twice a month".
'Petitions (paper copies) will be at various stalls and people will be walking around with petitions if you wish to sign them at the markets".
Image: Michelle and Ron with their wonderful 'One Fine Kitchen' Team at the Lismore Carboot Market
Marnie has dedicated the charity of the day to support the Car Boot Market. She told us that the market had to move from the Showground as it was not a viable location because there is damage to the shed, and "if Covid has taught us anything, it's to take things one month at a time."
She also said, in regards to her interaction with Management at McConaghy Properties (who manage the Lismore Square) that "there is nothing yet to report".
Mark Sollom from North Coast National who manage the Lismore Showground told us "The Car Boot Market were putting in a DA pre-floods, but after the floods, it didn't go ahead, and then the shed and Showgrounds needed to be assessed in regards to safety for use."
"We have been told we can use the shed now; for the Lismore Show we are putting in special bracing, so that's why we can use it".
"I wouldn't encourage others to use it however as the maintenance costs are too high, it's been around since the 1920s and we are wanting to get rid of it".
Shaun Haysom, Centre Manager for McConaghy Properties said, "Lismore Square has worked tirelessly, in conjunction with Lismore Square retailers to reopen the centre and ensure that the Lismore community has somewhere local to shop for all their essential retail needs. Opening this quickly also ensured that many of the locally owned and operated retail businesses could reopen their doors, start trading again and return the hundreds of local jobs that are created through the operation of Lismore Square".
"Our focus remains on delivering an outstanding experience to our customers, our community and our retail partners, it will be at least 12 months before we could consider entering into a discussion with the Car Boot Markets. However, it’s important to understand Lismore Square has not received any formal request from the Car Boot Markets or any other party to discuss their return to Lismore Square."
So it appears, for the near future at least, that the Lismore Car Boot Market will be held in the Harold Fredericks Carpark (outside the Quad), with the next market this Sunday the 18th with fine weather predicted.