The sights, sounds and smells of Yarraville’s Saturday sausage sizzle have been snuffed out.
Maribyrnong council has ordered butcher Andrew’s of Yarraville to immediately cease its popular weekly cheese kransky sizzle, telling the business it has the wrong permit.
Lisa Vourvahakis, who runs the shop with husband George, said the award-winning butcher had been running the sizzle for 12 years with no complaints from the public or the council.
“A lot of people are really upset about this,” she said. “We do this for Yarraville. The council knows what we have been doing for 12 years. They were OK with it all that time, but suddenly they tell us we have to stop.”
Maribyrnong council sustainable development director Nigel Higgins said the business held a permit for a table and chairs on the footpath but was selling products which did not comply with the permit.
“When this was brought to their attention, they advised us they didn’t intend to continue to operate the sausage sizzle and would not apply for the relevant permit,” he said.
But Ms Vourvahakis disputed this account, saying they had told the council they would do whatever it took to keep the sausage sizzle alive.
“They have just given us a brick wall,” she said.
“I asked if there was a way we could have a charity run it, but they said they only allow that kind of thing once or twice a year.”
Ms Vourvahakis said the butcher meets strict PrimeSafe industry standards.
A council spokeswoman said in order to operate a business on public land, such as a sausage sizzle for commercial gain at a festival, a permit is required on a case by case base.
“Similarly, to operate a sausage sizzle on public land where the proceeds are given to charity, a permit is required on a case by case basis,” she said.
“Accordingly, there is no permit available to operate a sausage sizzle on an ongoing basis on public land.”
