Markets off to Pako

Karen Hart
GEELONG West could soon be home to controversial Mill Markets after its owner lost a long-running legal battle with Geelong’s council.
Ian Ballis said he was negotiating the lease of a property in Pakington Street after Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal ordered the market to cease trading at its existing site in North Geelong’s Mackey Street until it had a valid permit.
The tribunal ruled the business must close its doors at North Geelong within 90 days.
Mr Ballis has been running the market in North Geelong without a valid permit for three years, claiming he was operating under the definition of “recycling” stipulated for the site under council’s planning scheme.
He applied to council to run the site as a materials recycling plant but has yet to hear whether planning chiefs will approve his application.
On Wednesday Mr Ballis filed an application to VCAT against council.
“I will be taking the council back to VCAT,” he said.
“I’m sick of waiting for the council to respond to my application. In the meantime, I’m negotiating the lease of a property in Pakington Street.
“It is costing me $50,000 to relocate the business but I won’t give up without a fight.
Mr Ballis said the community was behind the market.
“The success of the business has been overwhelming,” he said.
“We’ve had more than 400,000 visitors over the past three years, we employ over 100 local people and have had a sales turnover of almost $4 million during that time.”
Mr Ballis said he would circulate a petition in the next few weeks to rally public support for his VCAT application.
He has yet to confirm a date for the relocation of Mill Markets to Pakington Street.
Mr Ballis criticised council for allowing a paintball facility to open at the North Geelong site this week while opposing his business.