Market seeks extended lease

The Cambridge Farmers Market has the use of Victoria Square for a reduced rate available to charitable trusts. Photo: Mary Anne Gill.

Waipā residents are being asked to comment on a plan to extend the lease for the Farmers’ Market in Victoria Square, Cambridge but the organisation behind it is withholding information which could help in making a submission.

The Hamilton and Cambridge Farmers Markets Trust is a charitable organisation which runs markets in Cambridge on Saturday mornings and Hamilton on Sunday mornings.

Information obtained by The News suggests the trust pays commercial rates to Hamilton City Council for its home at Claudelands Park but a reduced community lease rate in Cambridge.

It effectively means Cambridge is subsidising the Hamilton market.

Trustee Greg Kirkwood said he felt it was “inappropriate” for the trust to disclose its annual accounts to The News despite seeking submissions on a five-year extension for Victoria Square with two rights of renewal for five years each.

The market does not pay ‘rent’ to Waipā District Council as the land is leased to the Cambridge Cricket Club.

It is able to occupy a designated area of the oval for a limited number of hours every Saturday morning for a $612 licence fee plus an annual administration fee of $357.

The land it occupied was repaired in the last two years after council installed new fire hydrants and the grass wore out in that corner.

The cost to ratepayers was $2750.

Hamilton City Council spokesperson Dan Silverton said H3, the operators of the Claudelands Events Centre, had negotiated a special rate venue hire with the market.

It was in line with other commercial arrangements, he said.

“H3 venues do not have community rates.”

The advertisement seeking comment on the council’s intention to extend the licence ran in a regional newspaper and not The News.

It is asking anyone wishing to make a submission or objection to the proposal to do so in writing or by email to the council no later than 5pm on July 10.

The Hamilton Farmers’ Market started in Hamilton in March 2006 with 15 stallholders and moved to Claudelands in 2016.

The Cambridge market started in 2010.