Save Preston Market campaign grows ahead of deadline

One of the popular markets in Melbourne is facing a battle for survival with developers and residents at odds over its future plans.

Residents have rallied together to form the Save Preston Market group after development plans were revealed for the site. Picture: Save Preston Market group

Residents are anxious over the future of the Preston Market after the longstanding saga with a timeline for a decision announced.

The Preston Market, which has existed for around 50 years, is subject to debate with the site’s owners proposing a radical development which would see apartments and a carpark added on site with parts of the market relocated.

The developers had proposed for 2200 apartments initially with shops, offices and retail space also added to help fund the revitalisation of the market.

“The precinct will deliver a range of diverse housing options, including affordable housing,” Salta Properties, one of the site’s owners, said in a statement.

“It will be one that will enable first home buyers, young families and those who have longed dreamed of Preston but couldn’t afford a house to access the wonderful suburb.”

The plans for the site were pounded with submissions as the Save Preston Market group started a campaign to keep the historic market in its place with the proposed plans receiving around 380 submissions.

The Preston Market site is show in blue. Picture: Darebin City Council

The community group has been engaged in a long-running Standing Advisory Committee, which has run from October to the first week of November, and has included expert witnesses, state politicians, the Preston Market developers Salta and Medich Corporation and the Darebin Council.

“We’re at the tail end of the standing advisory committee process where people can make a case for what they think should happen,” George Kanjere from the Save Preston Market group said.

“We feel like we’ve shaken it up a bit.

“We think we’re doing really well and we’re well positioned to keep the fight going for as long as we need to.”

The community group wants the Market to remain at its current site and be transferred into the ownership of the local council to protect it from future development. This would be similar to the ownership structures at the South Melbourne Market and Queen Victoria Market while the developers want to see their vision realised.

That vision has already been considerably changed since the initial plans after the state government limited the amount of apartments from 2200 to 1200 in their submission.

The developers’ plans for the market keep the existing fruit and vegetable block while the deli and meat blocks would be moved 25m east of its current location. This would mean 84 per cent of the market would be demolished and relocated. The market would be included in the first stage of development to allow traders to have continuity of trade according to the developers.

They believe their proposal keeps the “Preston Market as the heart of the precinct’s future.”

However, Mr Kanjere believed the changes would undermine the market.

“None of us in the group want to be doing this but it feels like we have to do this,” he said.

“If we don’t then it feels like these developers are just going to come in and smash everything.

“I feel like what happens with a lot of these developments is people get isolated so places like Preston Market are precious because they facilitate connection.”

It shapes as a key part of the upcoming election with the major political parties split on what to do with the Preston institution.

According to the Save the Preston Market group scorecard of the political parties, the Liberal party and the Greens want to scrap the plans and keep the market where it is. Others like independent Gaetano Greco and Victorian Socialists Steph Price want to go further and see the market in public hands.

Artist's impression of the Darebin City Council's plans for the Preston Market. Picture: Darebin City Council

The Darebin Council had previously submitted plans to keep the market where it is but allow for 1145 dwellings with retail spaces and open spaces.

“It doesn’t have to be one or the other – we can protect the market the community knows and loves while making room for new development,” Darebin Mayor Cr Lina Messina said.

Victorian Greens leader Samantha Ratnam, who also spoke at the SAC hearing, indicated the Greens’ policy position was to keep the market.

“The Greens want to protect the market and retain it where it is,” she said.

“We also want to see more affordable housing, more open space and much more sustainability as part of the future housing plan on the site.

“I‘ve been working hard for the community inside and outside the parliament in the campaign to protect the Preston Market.”

The state government, who has the final decision on whether the development goes ahead, has not committed to saving the Preston Market specifically.

“I support a vibrant and sustainable fresh food market in the precinct celebrating the importance Preston Market has for communities in Melbourne’s north,” Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn said recently.

The SAC will provide a recommendation to the state government with a final decision expected in 2023, made by Ms Blandthorn.

“We’re feeling good at the moment, the campaign has gone from strength to strength and we’re getting more and more people involved,” Mr Kanjere said.

“The election is not the end of the fight, we’re definitely aware of that and we’re prepared to push into 2023 or however long this takes.”

Medich Corporation have been contacted for comment.