The Yamba River Markets, which typically attracts between 2,000 to 3,000 people, returns on Sunday July 26.

Market Coordinator Gary Brisbane said, “We’ve been running our market online for the past four months, which has some good moments, especially when live buskers played on our Facebook feed.”

“But it’s fair to say we’re relieved to be finally bringing back the community market, albeit with social distancing measures in place.”

COVID-safe measures at the markets will include directional arrows and queuing spots sprayed on the ground. Shoppers will be encouraged to ‘walk on the left’ and to observe distancing when queuing at coffee and food vendors’ stalls.

On July 1 this year, Clarence Valley Council and market operator Live Prawn Productions Inc renewed their 3-year licence agreement. The association’s treasurer Phil Nicholas said, “It’s a vote of confidence in the not-for-profit model under which we operate the markets and turns those profits over to arts and cultural projects in the community.”

“During the past three years, we’ve underwritten Yamba’s Salty Sounds live music promotions, commissioned work by a local Aboriginal artist, hosted a VW Kombi rally and offered free yoga classes for children and adults.”

“Plus, we’ve hosted the Plunge Art Market twice since 2018 and provided free children’s art workshops run by Yamba Art Space at Riverside Picnics in Maclean. We also funded ‘Join the Circus in a Day’, a full day workshop attended by 25 young people in Yamba, run by Circus in Education.”

Looking ahead, there are changes afoot for the way stallholders pay for the sites, as well as the market layout. Mr Brisbane said, “We will now be taking online payments for stall sites via our new website. It means we can speed up access to the site for stallholders who pay in advance, since cash payments won’t be taken in the queue.”

“As for work on the expansion of Calypso Holiday Park, Clarence Valley Council has advised us that it’s due to begin any day now. It means that most stallholders usually based at the eastern end of the market will be moved into new positions.”

Stallholders with questions relating to the online payment system or layout changes caused by the construction works are invited to contact Gary Brisbane on 0422 420 159 or email stalls@yambarivermarkets.com.au