The Rossville community hopes to keep the charm of their beloved marketplace as they look for ways to improve it and make its structures permanent. Photo: Supplied.
The old, rusty structures of the Rossville Markets have a charm about them beloved by residents, but they are in desperate need of an upgrade, especially after Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
With the marketplace sitting on a road reserve that does not allow for permanent structures, grants for improvements had been off the table, but a new proposal by the Rossville and District Citizens Association (RDCA) could mean a new and improved future for the marketplace is on the horizon.
Earlier this year, the RDCA, community members and Cook Shire Council explored options to freshen up the market, including moving the marketplace, developing land around the community hall, or applying for a partial road closure to make the current area viable for funding, and opened a survey for Rossville, Cooktown, Helenvale, Ayton and Bloomfield community members.
On 27 April, survey results were shared at the Rossville community meeting, showing an overwhelming desire to keep the market where it has stood for generations, with 36.1 per cent of respondents preferring to secure the site through a formal partial road closure.
“It (the survey) demonstrated very strongly that the marketplace is more than just a marketplace, it really holds a strong emotional pull,” RDCA president Pasha Lynch said.
“We get some young families that come that were there as children themselves, so we’re talking about generations, three generations at least, that attend the markets.”
Ms Lynch said conversations on finding ways to upgrade the marketplace had been happening for at least 10 years.
“In the flooding, the pizza oven washed away completely; everywhere else, we could have gone for disaster funding and get it rebuilt, but we can’t, because it’s on a road reserve,” she said.
“Some of the roofing collapsed under the rain, and we can’t get any help – it’s a constant reminder.”
Mayor Robyn Holmes said the council would discuss the community feedback and legislative requirements surrounding it in the coming weeks.
“Council is working with the Rossville residents to resolve a more permanent solution,” she said.
“We hope the community will appreciate there is a process involved in determining outcomes; part of this process is trying to deliver community-driven outcomes within achievable and legislative boundaries.”
