In 2022-23, Council undertook a community and stakeholder engagement process to help shape the first-ever Mobile Food Van Procurement Guidelines. This included feedback from residents, sports clubs, and other stakeholders to ensure the proposed locations were appropriate and aligned with community needs.
As part of that initial engagement, the community was also asked what mattered most when choosing to purchase food or drinks from a mobile food van. Key considerations included:
- Presentation and appearance of the van
- Operating hours and availability
- Menu variety, including healthy options
- Pricing of food and beverages
- Use of locally sourced or manufactured products
- Contribution to local employment
- Environmentally sustainable practices
This feedback was instrumental in developing the original guidelines.
The 2025 revision did not include a new round of community consultation because it was a targeted update focused on operational improvements for vendors.
Importantly, the original community feedback remains central to the revised guidelines and continues to inform the assessment criteria. Updates made this year—such as changes to site licensing terms, fee structures, and the introduction of site sharing—were based on direct input from current operators.
The revised guidelines retain all previously approved locations, with the addition of Carrum Downs Recreation Reserve, which was requested by community members, operators, and Council. The assessment criteria still reflect what the community identified as important during the original consultation.