Mortel's monthly Sunday Muster cancelled because of a development application issue

Organiser Stephanie Mortel said the Thornton event, which started in May, attracts up to 60 stallholders and 5000 visitors.

She said she contacted council two months prior to the first event and was told because it was on private property and in the correct zoning a DA was not necessary.

Four months later and Mrs Mortel has been told by council to close the markets and lodge a development application for the popular event.

“The Muster has been a massive success and I don’t think council had realised the enormity of it,” she said.

“I’m not bagging out council, I want to work with them, but I don’t think the left hand is talking to the right hand,” Mrs Mortel said.

Mrs Mortel and husband Tony put plans in place for pedestrian and traffic control with volunteers representing charities directing crowds and cars. “I think the traffic and the crowds have got council’s attention,” she said.

“If we continue with the markets in August, I’ll cop a significant fine,” Mrs Mortel said. She will now lodge an application for council approval. A council spokesman said no consent has been sought or approved for the markets. “Activity of this nature would require council’s consent. Council will liaise with the operator to discuss the matter further,” he said. Mrs Mortel said council told her there will be a three to five month wait for development consent because the RMS has to be consulted.

The Muster is held the third Sunday of every month and was started to support charities, small business and cottage industries.

“We wanted to give cottage industries a leg up, an opportunity to have a go. The biggest losers in this are the stallholders that had an opportunity to develop their products and businesses and the charity that directs traffic and crowds that raised more than $3000 from the car park fee which was all on privately owned land,” Mrs Mortel said.