ELMORE residents' concerns about a coffee van planned for the town's centre will only affect the City of Greater Bendigo's decision if they fall within the scope of its code of practice for street trading.
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Residents fear the van - proposed for the town's Railway Place - could make existing traffic problems worse and affect existing business.
But the application has been made under local law, meaning a planning permit is not required, nor is it exhibited publicly or advertised for objections.
Read more: Furore brewing over Elmore coffee van
Council's Acting Safe and Healthy Environments manager Jason Barnes said any application would be assessed against the Greater Bendigo Outdoor Dining and Street Trading Code of Practice.
He said unless there was grounds for refusal within the code, the application would be accepted.
Mr Barnes said community feedback about the proposed van would be considered if it was relevant to the code.
He said traffic and parking could form a safety concern, but there was no grounds to consider competition with other businesses.
Mr Barnes said a licence agreement was yet to be drafted or signed, but applicant was making steps to make the site suitable for proposed use.
Underground power and water has been installed at Railway Place, with council's permission and at the applicant's own expense.
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A mobile coffee van falls under the city's definition of itinerant, or street trading.
Mr Barnes said the term itinerant was appropriate despite the investment in amenities for a specific site, as the vehicle used would be a register-able vehicle, meaning it could be moved.
Elmore Progress Association president Jeff Crust questioned why the applicant would spend thousands of dollars on ground works if the application's success was in doubt.
"If it's itinerant - which means they can sort of come and go as they please - why is the expense of that infrastructure necessary?," Mr Crust said.
"It seems an awful expense for something that's itinerant."
The city has been unable to disclose the name or business name of the applicant, citing privacy.
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