Weekend market crowd too close for comfort: claimant

The City of Greater Geraldton has received complaints that the Platform Markets were “not a safe environment” for customers or stallholders as COVID-19 safe distancing was “impossible to adhere to”. “The distancing does not exist, all stalls are nearly on top of one another, then you have customers trying to walk in between,” an anonymous complainant wrote to the City of Greater Geraldton and the Geraldton Guardian. When the Geraldton Guardian visited the markets we found that safe distancing was possible to adhere to but that some customers were nevertheless coming closer than the recommended 1.5m. We have often noted this in supermarkets. But there were no suggested distance markers or queuing positions on the floor of the former railway platform, or on the ground outside where many stalls were set up. Market owner Colin Dymond said this was the stallholders’ responsibility as he was the landlord. “We provide short-term space to holders (tenants) as any landholder does,” he said. “If I rent a building from you I am fully responsible for the care and attention for that space, be it a coffee shop, fast food, fashion salon. “All must comply with the relevant acts and recommendations either local or State.” City of Greater Geraldton chief executive Ross McKim said the City had received two complaints but had no power to enforce any restrictions linked to COVID-19 and the police played a compliance role in ensuring events adhere to restrictions. “The City plays an educational role when it comes to assisting businesses and events reopening at this time,” he said. “The City did contact the Platform Markets and suggested they prepare a COVID risk management plan to guide them in conducting their ongoing events as we have done with the majority of the hospitality operators. “Various State Government links were also sent to the event organisers as resources to create a COVID-19 Prevention Plan.” The markets closed for several months to comply with State of Emergency restrictions. Just before reopening early in June a notice was posted on the markets’ Facebook page asking stallholders to have hand sanitiser available for customers to use. Several of the stalls we visited had it on their tables in front of their wares. A police media spokeswoman said Geraldton police have been liaising with the Geraldton Platform Markets in regard to COVID-19 safety guidelines. “Their aim is to provide education and guidance during this time,” she said.