Jennifer Pittorino
Jim Boras is known as Mr Softy in the Maribyrnong area, serving ice cream and gelati every weekend.
The family business started with his dad in the 60s and he hopes his kids will take over some day too.
Since 2013, Mr Boras has operated two ice cream trucks at the New Year’s Eve celebrations at Footscray Park.
When permits were handed out for this year, he missed out. While the council has now said that he can have a permit for one truck, he’s still disappointed by the decision and the process that has occurred.
“Every year we send in an expression of interest to Maribyrnong council for the fireworks event,” he said.
“This year we got a response telling us we were unsuccessful because they want to give other traders a go at the event.
“I have since found out that every other trader who was there last year is returning. We are the only ones that aren’t.
“It feels like we have been targeted.”
Mr Boras is unsure why his trucks are being left out of the group of more than 20 food trucks who usually attend the event, when he has been consistently paying his yearly permits.
The permit allows Mr Boras to trade in his usual spot in the Coulson Gardens, something he has not been able to do since the October 2022 floods.
“We pay a permit fee for both of our vans each year, it is almost $3,500 per van,” he said.
“We didn’t call the council and ask for a refund on our permit, we just stuck with them, we assumed everyone was doing it tough so we lost money on the whole season.”
In addition to paying for a yearly permit, Mr Boras also pays a daily permit for the New Years Eve event.
“We stuck with council through thick and thin, through floods and a pandemic, and yet they invite other trucks that don’t pay an annual permit fee,” he said.
“They come along and take the business. It’s the one day in the whole year that we work well.
“It just seems unfair that we’re paying all these fees every year supporting the council and they just shun us last minute.”
Mr Boras said he has no issue with other trucks at the event, which don’t pay the yearly permit.
“We don’t complain about having the other trucks there but why kick us out, what is the reason?” he said.
“We have been there every year since 2013 besides COVID and the flood years.”
Mr Boras and his team felt being left out was totally gut wrenching.
“We wait the whole year for this event to make some money, I don’t see the point in paying extra fees and not being able to work.”
Maribyrnong council did not comment.
