An ice cream van has been ordered to shut up shop and move off the sand at two popular beaches in one Aussie state despite being a welcome sight there for more than two decades.
The ice cream van Gelati Man has been banned from selling on Home Beach and Cylinder Beach on Queensland’s North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) due to public safety concerns. The vendor Deb Bliss had only bought the business from island resident Craig Frampton five years ago, with the business spanning 36-year-old in total. However, she will now need to sell her ice creams from the respective car parks.
“It’s probably only a couple of minutes walk, but you’ve got to go through a swamp, and there’s all rocks, and people haven’t got shoes on the beach,” Bliss told Yahoo News. “I’m now operating in the carparks and I don’t think it’s safe, kids have no sense of the danger and there are drivers frustrated trying to get a park.”
The Redland City Council made the decision after a tourist posted a selfie online and excitedly shared how “awesome” it was to buy ice cream on the beach back in September. Ever since, Deb has been trying to push against the ban that costs her “three quarters of her income”.
“I’m stressed to the max because it’s also a seasonal income,” she said. She claims to have provided alternatives to the council, such as having a designated location on the beach or using the entrance that lifeguard vehicles use. However, she told Yahoo News are options were denied. Yahoo News has reached out to Redland City Council for more details.
Vendor owner Deb Bliss has been trying to ‘fight the decision’ since council told her to drive off the sand. Source: Facebook
Council defends decision to ban ice cream ban from beaches
The ice cream van was reportedly violating local laws that prohibit driving motor vehicles at beach swimming areas.
“There are a number of locations on both the mainland and island where mobile vendors can operate under a Temporary Commercial Use of Open Space permit,” the Redland City Council spokesperson told the Courier Mail. It includes six locations on North Stradbroke Island — at Amity Point, Dunwich and Point Lookout.”
However, many locals worry the decision is over-regulation at play and jeopardises the age-old joy of having a relaxing ice cream at the beach — something that has been a staple at these beaches. One local called the decision “ridiculous” and said it “breaks my heart” to lose the tradition.
Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.
You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.