Business owners at the Westside Container Village are furious at the broken promises and poor management they say has failed the embattled site and left them fearful over their futures.
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The National Capital Authority announced on Thursday it would give the village just one more year after consultation highlighted criticisms including poor appearance, noise and anti-social behaviour.
Co-owner of The One Food Van, Tom Luxton, said his time at the site had been the worst experience in his 12-year hospitality career.
The ACT government plans to consult the businesses about when the village should be wound up and whether they want to relocate, but the latter is out of the question for Mr Luxton.
"We don't want to work with the government anymore and we don't want to sign a lease with them ever again, wherever it is," he said.
"There is no way I'm putting my faith in them ever again. We have built a really good name and business has been good, but there have been so many broken promises, so many ideas pushed that never happened and a complete lack of communication."
Mr Luxton said he had had to turn away catering requests for eight weddings because he was never certain he would have a kitchen.
"We signed two leases in 18 months that were between four to six months. Each time we didn't know if they would be extended, so we couldn't plan ahead with bookings.
"The whole thing has been a joke. The NCA should just tear it down."
Mr Luxton and several other business owners said they had no problem attracting customers but had been let down by the failure to follow through with a range of "promises," including installing large screens, building a playground behind the containers and keeping the area clean.
Multiple operators said they had received little consultation from the government about the future of the village. It is understood some are paying rent and others are not.
Business owner Mr Ajaj said he would wait for more information and talk to other vendors before deciding whether he would relocate or support a demolition.
"I am staying focused on this business as now that it's nearly summer people are loving the space and we're doing fine, so I need to see why they've made this decision," he said.
The prominent "pop-up" site at West Basin was designed to bring people to the area, ahead of the ACT government's sale of land at West Basin for commercial and residential development. But it has been dogged by problems in its two-year history. The ACT government asked the National Capital Authority for permission to stay at the site until the end of March 2019 but was given just 12 months.
In is application, it described Westside as an "urban play space" and a place "to witness the transformation of the West Basin waterfront".
A two-and-a-half year permit would allow the venue to attract a broader range of businesses, beyond the food and drink vendors there now. It would also allow the ACT to lock in major events.
"By 2019, the staging to deliver the City to the Lake project will be known. A solution for Parkes Way will be selected, the land release schedule at West Basin confirmed and sections of the waterfront constructed," the government said in its application.
It also promised daily cleaning, removal of illegal graffiti, and more landscaping, with plants, vines and artificial turf to improve aesthetics, soften the hard look of the containers, cool down the site, and integrate the village into the landscape.
It said the site would change with the seasons. In spring, events would be held around gardening, sustainability and outdoor activities. In summer, it would be "a laid back place to meet and socialise after work and over the weekend".
In autumn, it would be adorned in "earthy colours", and "provide healthy food options and events to encourage physical activity". In winter, it would become a "winter wonderland", with heaters, hot food, mulled wine, night markets, winter activities and ice sculptures.
