In Logan, Brisbane, a community street market named ‘Kicking it at Kingston’ is facing the possibility of closure as the local council deems the setup ‘unsafe and unsightly’.

Angela Leo, the organiser, drew inspiration from concepts like street libraries and community vegetable gardens when creating the market. Her goal was to seamlessly blend these ideas to make a positive impact.


Over the last three years since its establishment, the community market has served as a vital resource, providing essentials like gifts, food (including refrigerated items), and other daily necessities to vulnerable members of society, including neighbours, friends, and strangers.

Despite its significant contributions to the community, the market is now threatened by the council’s concerns regarding safety and appearance.


‘Homeware, clothing, food, to jewellery. We have saved in excess of hundreds of tonnes of what might have ended up in landfill,’ Ms Leo shared with A Current Affair.

Completely free of charge, the markets operate on a volunteer basis, accepting only ‘sharing, respect, and responsibility’ as valid currencies.

‘I had a mother telling me the other day that she hasn’t had to buy clothes for her kids for the last three years, and the pressure that took off of her was huge,’ Ms Leo recalled.

‘Now she feels like she's part of our family, you can't get any better than that.’


Upon investigation, Logan City Council asserted that authorities were informed of activities that purportedly ‘negatively impact public health’.

Ms Leo argued that the council’s motive is simply to remove the markets due to their perceived issues.

‘When it’s a nuisance to feed and clothe people of the community we really have to question what our governments are doing,’ she pointed out.

Logan Council issued an order to Ms Leo, mandating the removal of the street market or else she faces a fine of 5 penalty units, equivalent to $774.

‘These are essential goods in some of the hardest times and we live in an area of Logan which has some of the highest unemployment. We have some of the highest social disadvantages in the whole area,’ Ms Leo said, stressing that no issues were raised for the duration of the effort’s operation.


City Council has acted in response to a complaint from a Kingston resident relating to items allegedly stored in an unsafe and unsightly way on a local footpath,’ said a council spokesperson.

‘Council has a duty to act when made aware of activities which negatively impact public health, safety or liveability.’

Officials claimed that some items offered were allegedly unsafe for the community. The specific products they were referring to are not known.


Furthermore, the Logan City Council said there were ‘numerous discussions held with the residents involved’ to help them ‘voluntarily achieve compliance with the local law via alternate means’.

‘Continued non-compliance left Council with little choice but to issue a notice on 18 October requiring the items be removed from the nature strip and footpath within seven days,’ the council explained.

‘Council will continue to work directly with those involved to achieve a mutually satisfactory outcome.’

Meanwhile, the local community insists they won’t surrender without a fight and stands firmly behind Angela, hoping that she can keep her markets in operation.

Ms Leo received a seven-day notice on 18 October, making closure mandatory by Monday, October 27yesterday. It remains unclear whether or not Ms Leo heeded the notice.
Members, what are your thoughts on this story? Who, in your opinion, is on the right or wrong side, and what amicable solution do you propose for the benefit of everyone?

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