The policy was developed to provide a guideline for the conditions of Activities in Thoroughfares and Public Places and Trading Local Law. These conditions are outlined under Section 5.2 of the Policy.

The survey was released in response to concerns and feedback received from mobile and fixed businesses and was used to assess stakeholder sentiment prior to the development of draft policy changes.

Whilst the Dampier Foreshore was a popular location, the site is not being proposed as an approved trading location due to its proximity and close competition with the six fixed businesses in Dampier. The site will continue to be used for event-based activities.

The City is investigating a number of new options such as the Old Karratha Hospital Site, Old Wickham Hospital Site, Kevin Richards Memorial Car Park, TAFE car park and Roebourne Information Bay. These locations require further investigation as, in some cases (e.g. the TAFE), the City is not the landowner. The timeframe for providing a response on the viability of these locations should be available in February 2025.

Temporary trading conditions have been implemented as a fair and equitable approach to supporting food trading businesses in Dampier. The sites are not closed for trading; however, they have controlled trading times to support both mobile and fixed businesses operating in Dampier.

In 2021, the number of mobile traders allowed to trade at Dreamers Hill was reduced from five to four, which has alleviated some of the previous traffic concerns. There has been a call for a central trading location for mobile traders. The City is working on finding a central location that may be suitable for mobile traders.

Sites and areas where trading is permitted are outlined in Appendix 1 of the Policy. The trading locations are highlighted in yellow for each site. Appendix 1 also provides the approved times for trading, which can be booked via the Booking System on a monthly basis. If time slots and sites are oversubscribed, the City allocates slots on a rotational basis.

Under Section 5.2.2 of the Policy, the City may decide to close an approved trading site at any time based on reasonable grounds. This must be communicated to traders to ensure fairness and transparency. Examples of reasons why a site would be closed include the need for roadworks or other works at the site that may present a safety issue.

Various factors have been taken into consideration at trading sites, such as pedestrian safety, proximity to other businesses, traffic volumes, etc.

Trading is permissible at sites nominated in the Policy and in Appendix 1. An exception to this rule is mobile traders invited to trade at a sports game or work site, where they are only serving those in the group attending the sports game or work site and cannot sell to members of the public. This is permitted under Clause 5.7(3) of the Activities in Thoroughfares and Public Places and Trading Local law 2017.

Community groups and/or not-for-profits are allowed to sell food but are required to complete a Notification Form under the Food Act 2008 and must comply with the Food Standards Code. Further information can be obtained by contacting the Environmental Health Team on (08) 9186 8555.

The CBD areas in Karratha, Dampier, and Wickham are outlined in Appendix 1 of the Policy. A business within the CBD may hold a product or business promotion, or fundraiser for a recognised organisation, once per quarter. This means the business can host up to four such events annually. Traders are permitted to attend one of these events each quarter, with a maximum of four events per year. The business owners are responsible for inviting the mobile traders to participate. Trading may take place at a public event within the CBD, provided the event has been approved under the Health (Public Buildings) Regulations and the event organiser has extended an invitation.