Food vans are tailor made

Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke and representatives from Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council inspect the new Lions Club vans.

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council has recently granted $50,000 to the Cootamundra Lions Club through the New South Wales (NSW) Government’s Stronger Communities Fund.

The grant enabled the purchase of two catering vans which made their debut at the recent Australia Day celebrations. The vans are kitted out with a number of features including power outlets, stainless steel benches, fridges and water tanks. Complying with NSW food safety regulations, and present a professional standard.
Lions Club members were involved with the design and the vans were constructed by Sydney based company Luke’s Food Vans, tailor made to suit the local club’s requirements.

President of the Cootamundra Lions Club, Mr Hugh Roberts said the vans will assist the club and local community organisations with their fund raising ventures.

“The mobile street stall van is used on a weekly basis by various community organisations, and will now have the capacity to ensure the weekly street stalls are taking place in a safe, comfortable and up to date facility.

“Catering at events and functions is becoming a big part of the activities our local Lions Club is called upon to do, the new catering van will put the club in a better position to cater for events and functions and be equipped to meet food hygiene, OH&S and industry standards.”

Cootamundra-Gundagai Regional Council Mayor, Abb McAlister, said, “The Lions Club movement across our region does a great job, they contribute so much to our communities, these vans will ensure the future fundraising needs of the Cootamundra Lions Club.

“Council is currently investigating appropriate locations to install power outlets in the street to facilitate the supply of power to the new vans to service the community, instead of relying on the generosity of retailers. The provision of dedicated power outlets will also reduce the public risk factor of running cables across pedestrian traffic ways”.

Member for Cootamundra, Steph Cooke, said, “I’m so pleased this project has been made possible and is another example of how the Stronger Communities Fund has benefitted local organisations.”