A Queensland butcher is facing a $1600 fine over hosting a free community barbeque event, sparking outrage from local residents.
Maaki Tyson, co-owner of Lakeside Quality Meats in the Gold Coast’s Palm Beach, said he was running his free weekly barbecue on Saturday, when it was shut down mid-service by a council inspector.
“He said you haven’t got a permit for the barbecue, you haven’t got a permit for the roadside dining or the table,” Tyson told news.com.au.
“I’m like, well hang on, it’s a free community event. I think he was doing his job, but the way he went about it was just wrong.
“A lot of customers were pretty upset and probably vocalised that to him, but he hung around for about an hour or so until we’d finished cleaning everything up… He was about as popular as a fart in a space suit.”
Tyson hosts the barbecue in hopes of building community spirit, and it costs his business about $35,000 a year to run.
“We just wanted to help our business but also help the community, so we get some homeless people that live in a park across the road,” he said.
“They come over on Saturday. We get people after they’ve been to the local market; also kids after sport; it’s just become a fun thing to do.”
Another council inspector had previously warned them about signage, but “said nothing at all about the barbecue or the seating or anything.”
The fine has sparked outrage online with one person saying: “Things are just getting beyond ridiculous, an Australian butcher can’t even barbecue a snag.”
“Absolute joke! Everyone get behind these legends and help keep the sausage sizzle going,” another said.
Others however defended the decision, arguing that the inspector was simply following the “standard procedure”.
“Rules are rules. Simple,” wrote a third.
Tyson said he was grateful for overwhelming public support and said he will fight back the fine.
“If we can’t have it the way it is, we’ll work our way around it. We’re not going to take it lying down,” he said.
Gold Coast Councillor Josh Martin said he would take the matter to the Council’s CEO in an interview with 7News on Monday.
A City of Gold Coast spokesperson said in a statement that “the City will continue to work with the business to ensure all future events comply with relevant health and safety requirements.”
Image: Sunrise
