Preston market advocates accuse minister of unnecessary delay over report

Preston Market supporters have accused the Planning Minister of withholding a report that could decide the market’s fate.

Chris Erlandson and other members of Save Our Preston Market community group at Preston Market where plans to re develop it are underway. Picture: David Geraghty / The Australian.

The release of a report into the future of the Preston Market has been delayed, angering residents who have been campaigning for it to remain.

Advocates to preserve the market have accused Planning Minister Sonja Kilkenny of withholding a vital report that contains the Victorian Planning Authority’s (VPA) official recommendation on the future of the site.

According to the Save Preston Market group, the publication of the report is 10 weeks overdue.

Save Preston Market representative George Kanjere said the delay was secrecy that was typical of the “flawed” planning process.

“The VPA and the developers SALTA and Medich have been intent on knocking down the market from the beginning, with a view to maximising their profits,” Mr Kanjere said.

“Now, it looks like the new Planning Minister, Sonya Kilkenny, is happy to sideline the community and the traders in favour of entertaining the VPA and the developer's plans.

“The community and the traders deserve to know what is happening in relation to the market, but as usual we will be the last to know.”

The 50-year-old market has been the subject of intense debate after the site’s owners proposed a radical development that would see apartments and a carpark added on site with parts of the market relocated.

Community campaigners have fought for the past two years to keep the historic market at its current location, with the proposed plans receiving around 380 submissions.

A Standing Advisory Committee was formed and held several meetings late last year, with participation from community advocates, expert witnesses, state politicians, developers and the Darebin Council.

The VPA report was due to be a product of this committee, in order to provide a recommendation to the Victorian government on the future of the market.

Advocates are demanding public acquisition of the land on which the market stands, to preserve the landmark into the future.

The community campaign was a hot topic in the seat of Preston in the state election, when independent candidate and vocal advocate for the market Gaetano Greco recorded 13.7 per cent of the vote, with a 15 per cent swing away from the ALP candidate Nathan Lambert in a normally safe Labor seat.

“The community‘s voice was loud and clear at the state election,” Mr Greco said.

“Saving Preston Market from being demolished and keeping it in its current form is of the utmost importance, but the continued secrecy by the state government and the VPA suggests they are siding with big developers and still treating the community with contempt.”

A spokesperson for the VPA said that the report was entirely in the hands of the minister and it was her prerogative on when it was released.

“She’s made it clear she needs more time, so we’re at her discretion just like everyone else,” they said.

Ms Kilkenny has been contacted for comment.