Market now in traders’ hands

By Bridget Cook
TWO local residents are continuing their push to get a market up and running in Cranbourne.
Former Casey councillor and Cranbourne resident Steve Beardon and experienced marketeer John Foley are hoping to set up a trash and treasure market in Casey.
The pair met with the management of the Cranbourne Homemaker Centre, on the South Gippsland Highway, last week to discuss the poss-ibility of holding a market in the car park.
They have now been asked to put together a presentation highlighting the benefits of the market. Management of the Cranbourne Homemaker Centre will then show the presentation to traders.
Mr Beardon said he was “positive” with the direction the market push was going.
Mr Beardon said at the meeting they discussed a number of things including how they could operate the market in the car park, without taking valuable car parks from existing traders.
“We also discussed site size for vendors, positioning at the centre, stall preferences to compliment existing retailers ensuring wide range of products and goods for sale,” he said.
“The goal would be to establish a market that would add further value and trade to the homemaker centre, exciting atmosphere and family activities.”
Mr Foley has spent more than 20 years as a market vendor.
“I still have a lot of contacts and made a lot of friends during that time,” he said. “I would have at least 100 stall holders that would be happy to come to Cranbourne and start a market off.”
While there has been some discussion over which type of market would suit the area best, Mr Foley said he believed a trash and treasure market would work best.
“What I have been chasing for four years is a Saturday, ordinary trash and treasure market,” he said.
“That would appeal to everyone across the board.”
Mr Beardon and Mr Foley both said they would now try to gain the support of the council and other community groups.