With forecasters expecting the current weather system to hang around until mid-May, the Kiama Farmers’ Market is looking for an interim, hard surface or undercover location for the next six weeks or so.

“We’ve had to cancel tomorrow’s market at Surf Beach and the one on Thursday at Berry as the forecast is so bad,” says the Market’s Manager, Tricia Ashelford.

“Last week we were able to have a one-off market at Burnetts on Barney, but that is not possible again without a DA for it.

“The Pavilion, which has been our wet weather option in the past, is booked out on Wednesdays until 18 May.”

Shoppers enjoying the hard surface at Burnetts last week

The Farmers’ Market is hoping that Council might be able to help identify an alternate venue for them.

“We’ve made a number of suggestions, including the Leisure Centre or its grounds and Gerringong Town Hall,” says Tricia.

“We are desperate to find a solution to this – Coronation Park is waterlogged.

“We want somewhere to go on a regular basis, so that we don’t lose the momentum we’ve built up over the last eight years.”

Ironically, the Market moved to Coronation Park from the Harbour due to damage done by an East Coast Low

Tricia is deeply aware that local producers are doing it tough, and the Farmers’ Market is an essential source of regular income for them.

“We found workarounds during COVID to keep the market going, but this has got us stumped at the moment. We’ve already had to cancel twice in the last two months, something we didn’t do as an essential service during COVID.”

Tricia suggests these alternative sources of local food around town:

~ Pop into the The Pines Kiama shop on Collins Street for a range of cheese, salami, fruit, veg, crackers and gelato!

~ Place on order at the Buena Vista Farm shop for pick up on Saturday.

~ Duck into the The Butcher's Nook for local eggs from Kareelah Farm

~ Swing past the “Top Shop” on Manning Street for a great selection of local produce and artisan food stuffs.