LOCALS and tourists are loving the roadside options shaping weekend social gatherings in Nambucca Valley.
Travellers are enjoying the rural experience at roadside stalls and locals are buying farm produce directly, connecting with other locals away from technology.
Coffee vans are popping up in parks and along main roads attracting regulars.
Stall numbers may increase further as awareness grows of relaxed regulations.
Nambucca Valley Council’s director of development and environment services, Daniel Walsh, told News Of The Area that, in recent years, state-wide exemptions removed the need for a Development Application (DA) for stalls on wheels, providing they met code exemptions.
“Stalls can include farm produce and handicrafts,” he explained.
“But if food or drinks are served, stallholders must complete health and safety certificate registration.
“Coffee vans may move around and operate from any land zoning as long as they meet code exemptions for a DA,” he said.
Mr Walsh said Council encouraged enterprises such as these to flourish as they enhanced tourism and community cohesion.
Some stallholders have combined both produce and coffee. One such stall is Bowra Creek Farm, which has operated since March 2025, one kilometre from Bowraville on Rodeo Drive.
Owners Allan and Trudie McKibbin care about their local community as Trudie was born and raised in Bowraville.
They began with a vision to sell their farm produce, then found a coffee van and added baked goods, honey and flowers.
“The chairs and gazebo were added over time to make everyone comfortable,” Allan told News Of The Area.
The farm animals nearby are a bonus for customers who decide to linger for a chat.
Bowraville local Rita Ballangarry and her daughter look forward to Saturday mornings at Bowra Creek Farm.
“We like to support local business and it’s good for the locals to gather here too, especially for those isolated and alone,” Rita told News Of The Area.
“Thank God it’s here every weekend. Bowraville needs this,” her daughter said.
Budding stallholders should contact Nambucca Valley Council to check if they qualify for exemptions from the development code before proceeding.
By Sharon JANE
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