Eight councillors have confirmed they will vote in favour of the plan when it goes before council on Tuesday night, saying the market brought more people into The Levee precinct, connected communities and supported the city’s farmers. 

Four councillors are yet to reveal whether they will support the matter. 

Councillor Bob Geoghegan said the proposal had “very strong arguments” but it was “dangerous for councillors to say which way they were going to vote until they hear all the sides of the argument”.  

“I’m always a bit reluctant to say which way i’ll vote,” he said.

Councillor Ken Wethered hadn’t made up his mind when contacted by Fairfax Media on Friday and Councillor Brian Burke said he was sitting on the fence. 

Mayor of Maitland, Councillor Peter Blackmore, noted the council’s recommendation was to approve it. 

Councillor Arch Humphery could not be contacted on Friday. 

Councillor Loretta Baker urged her peers to support the market.

She said the impromptu pumpkin stall, where 20 tonnes were sold in 12 hours, brought record crowds to the precinct and the trial markets had also been very popular.

She also noted the venture had brought the community together and “put the soul back” into the city’s heart. 

Twenty tonnes of produce was sold at the trial markets, according to the council report.

The fortnightly market would be held on the first and third Thursday of the month starting in February.

It would be held from 1pm to 5pm between June and August and from 3pm to 7pm during the rest of the year. 

“It’s the most natural thing to happen in there … They are crazy if they don’t support it,” Cr Baker said.

“When I came to Maitland I could go to Glenarvon Road and buy fresh asparagus and tomatoes – now it’s all turf,” she said. 

Councillor Robert Aitchison said shoppers wanted the afternoon time slot and he foresaw prosperous times for other businesses in The Levee.

He said the market would bring people into the space and entice them to do some other shopping and enjoy a meal. 

“I’ve been pushing for it to be in the afternoon … It will help farmers sell their fresh produce and it will help the shops and  increase the appeal of the area,” he said.

Councillor Steve Procter said he wasn’t worried about an impact on supermarkets because there weren’t too many local fruit shops in the area, while Councillor Philip Penfold said it was clear the community wanted to support the local growers.

Councillor Henry Meskauskas said the market should have started a long time ago. 

Read more about the markets here