Erskineville Public School in Sydney’s inner west is the latest school to try its hand at running markets, as public schools remain under pressure to raise their own funds.
"It could put us out of business," said Joseph Youssif, who runs The Fruit Village across the road from the florist.Department of Education figures show NSW public schools made $31.87 million from hire of school facilities in 2017. Schools with successful markets such as Bondi Beach Public, Orange Grove Public in Lilyfield, Glebe Public and Rozelle Public are earning hundreds of thousands of dollars in extra income.
Andrew Chesterton, one of the market organisers, said his business won a tender to operate the market but declined to reveal how much rent was paid to the school. In 2017, prior to starting the market, the school’s income from facilities hire was $32,342. “Of course we don't want to be there," he said. "We were buying extra stock and then ending up with waste. It took time away from our business and looking after our customers. The transportation from the shop to the market and back again was hard. At the end of the day, there were not enough people."
Ms Thomas said most Erskineville shopkeepers, including herself, were local residents who sponsored the school’s fundraising events and provided jobs for locals. She would support a different sort of market, such as arts and crafts.
So wait...'I'm a business owner/capitalist, but don't like when competition comes along/not that kind of capitalism'? Am I reading this correctly?
How do the new farmers feel about it? Surely they deserve encouragement
Independent shopping strip probably voted LNP so others will take Savings & living costs into their own hands,Go Sydney school,Good move.I been growing veges two yrs now.Not paying the ridiculous overpricing.This yr a black capsicum.Never seen one b4
Whatever you do, there will always be opposition, good, bad or ugly