Local residents oppose Queen Victoria Market redevelopment
Local residents are uniting for the fight against the $250 million Queen Victoria Market revamp, which will include affordable housing, shops and other facilities. This is why developers are facing stiff opposition.
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A Melbourne City Council plan to build a skyscraper to help fund the $250 million Queen Victoria Market redevelopment faces stiff opposition from local residents.
The project could also be affected due to potential overshadowing of the nearby Flagstaff Gardens.
A high-rise apartment tower including affordable housing, shops, community facilities and market carparking are planned for the so-called southern development site on Franklin and Queen streets.
The freehold land, some of which was gifted by the state government, will be developed by the private sector.
However, a proposal by council to close parts of Queen and Franklin streets for the project has upset some locals and drawn out their opposition to the broader tower plan.
A recent council report revealed that dozens of submissions were made about the road closures, with claims they would lead to increased traffic congestion near the market, restrict access to market facilities and reduce green space.
Local resident David Legge said he supported the market’s redevelopment, but was against closing Franklin St and selling it as a development site.
“It seems to be a huge decision to make to close off the road when there are so many things currently changing that will affect the precinct,” his submission said.
In another submission, Marisa Raniolo Wilkins said planning scheme changes for the area allowed a tower of about 40 storeys.
“Seen from the council’s indicative sketches, such a building will completely destroy the amenity of the local area and increase the sense of disconnection between the city and market,” she said.
A City of Melbourne spokeswoman said councillors had voted unanimously to discontinue parts of Franklin and Queen streets as a key step to enact a 2014 agreement with the government for the market master plan.
“(This will) deliver high-quality mixed used development and additional market carparking on the southern site alongside the Queen Victoria Market,” she said.
“Realigning and improving Franklin and Queen streets will better connect the market to the city, with the historic Franklin St Stores to be retained.”
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The council has previously proposed an amendment to protect sunlight in public parks, with some observers suggesting it could affect the scale of the planned tower, and therefore the financial return to the council.
The council spokeswoman said the amendment had been open to submissions, and they were currently being reviewed.
“It is premature to speculate on the impacts of the proposed amendment before the process is complete,” she said.