Home-based Indian grocer operating from Canberra garage draws neighbour complaints
Residents cite increased traffic and safety concerns on a quiet Wright street; owner says business is legally approved
Neighbours on a quiet residential street in Wright, a suburb west of Canberra, have written to local ministers seeking action after an Indian grocery store began operating from a single-vehicle garage, prompting complaints about traffic, deliveries and pedestrian safety.
Kerala Spices Indian Groceries, which opened in the garage in 2023, has drawn criticism from nearby residents who say customers park on the street and large delivery trucks unload close to footpaths where children play. One neighbour, Prasad Abeyrathne, wrote to ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr, saying the business "is now destroying the everyday life of its neighbours; it runs from 6:30am to 11:00pm" and describing a "continuous flow of traffic to the shop."
Leaders in the area have acknowledged the complaint. Local MLA Marisa Paterson responded to the letter on Aug. 25 and said she would take the community's concerns seriously, according to neighbours. Access Canberra, the territory's service agency, did not provide a case-specific comment when contacted through media reporting.
The grocer, operated by owner Lincy Mathew, sells packaged and frozen Indian foodstuffs within the footprint of a single-car garage. Mathew rejected neighbours' complaints as "false and baseless," saying the business has operated for two-and-a-half years, holds an Australian Business Number and has approval from the local council. She said deliveries by trucks occur occasionally and generally late in the evening.
Under Australian Capital Territory rules, food businesses must register with the Health Protection Service and comply with safe food-handling laws; registration follows an inspection of the premises by ACT Health. Home-based businesses are permitted to handle low-risk foods provided they do not exceed a production area of 40 square metres and do not generate more than five vehicle arrivals each day. It was reported that a registration certificate was not displayed at the premises.
Neighbours have described the shop as a disruption to the community and raised concerns about parking being taken up by customers and vehicles being parked irregularly along Porter Street. Complaints focused on potential safety risks for children using footpaths near the garage when trucks and customers arrive.
The dispute highlights tensions between small, home-based enterprises and nearby residents in suburban areas, and raises questions about enforcement of planning and health regulations for businesses operating from residential properties. Local authorities have limited ability to comment publicly on individual compliance matters, and the MLA's response indicates officials are reviewing the concerns raised by residents.
The parties involved — the store owner, neighbours and local representatives — have offered differing accounts of the volume and timing of activity at the site. Reports noted the business has been operating since 2023 and that neighbours escalated their concerns by writing to the Chief Minister. The matter remains under local scrutiny while representatives consider whether the operation complies with ACT home-business and food-safety rules.