Mart130 cafe at Middle Park Light Rail burnt down six months ago, but owners still can’t rebuild

BUREAUCRATIC bickering has stalled repairs to a much-loved landmark Middle Park cafe, destroyed by fire nearly six months ago.

Mart130 owner Kate Anstee is calling for support to get the building at the Middle Park Light Rail Station rebuilt. Picture: Josie Hayden

BUREAUCRATIC bickering has stalled repairs to a much-loved landmark Middle Park cafe destroyed by fire nearly six months ago.

A faulty power point at the timber Mart130 cafe at Middle Park Light Rail Station sparked the February 19 blaze and the owners say they have been “desperate to reopen” ever since.

And a petition calling on the State Government to save the popular eatery on VicTrack land has garnered more than 880 signatures in just a few days.

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Kate Anstee, who ran Mart130 with her husband Richard, told the Leader they would have been “up and running” again by now if they hadn’t been “stonewalled” by authorities.

“We are desperate to reopen; if it was up to us and we owned the building privately, we’d be open by now,” she said.

“We have been trying for months to get information about when the rebuild will happen but Yarra Trams and (Public Transport Victoria) have gone to ground.”

She said the fire had “compounded an already frustrating situation”, with the couple locked in lease negotiations with the government for more than 17 months.

“Even before the fire we were having trouble getting anyone to meet with us about the lease — we’ve just been left in limbo,” Mrs Anstee said.

The cafe had been the couple’s sole income and she said Mr Anstee had been forced to find work elsewhere to keep them afloat.

“We want to reopen — it would be great to be back, doing what we love,” Mrs Anstee said.

The flurry of signatures added to the couple’s petition has sparked action, with Albert Park state Labor MP Martin Foley this week confirming the site would be rebuilt.

“I will continue to work with PTV and Yarra Trams to make sure this much-loved business returns to its iconic location as soon as possible,” he said.

The historic cafe building back in 2009.

PTV chief executive Jeroen Weimar said design works had started and the structure would be rebuilt “in the style of the original architecture”.

Works are expected to start before the end of the year.

Mrs Anstee said while the government’s commitment to rebuild was welcome she still hadn’t been given an answer about the lease.

Mr Foley called on the rail authorities to “resolve the lease matter quickly”.

“I’m frustrated and disappointed with the way Yarra Trams have sought to exploit the position of the cafe operators during this time,” he said.

While the reason for the delays has not been disclosed, the Leader undertands there was a dispute between PTV and Yarra Trams about insurance at the site.

Yarra Trams referred the paper’s queries to PTV.

To sign the petition: bit.ly/2vomD78