Melbourne City Council wins approval to develop site next to Queen Victoria Market

A REDEVELOPMENT of a key site in the Queen Victoria Market precinct has won approval. But the city council still has to convince heritage authorities on its plans to refurbish the market itself.

A $450 million public and commercial redevelopment in the Queen Victoria Market precinct has been given the green light.

It comes as the Melbourne City Council opted not to appeal against a heritage authority’s rejection of plans to refurbish historic market sheds.

In good news for the council, the state government approved its blueprint for the so-called Munro site on the corner of Queen and Therry streets.

LORD MAYOR ISSUES ULTIMATUM OVER MARKET PRECINCT REDEVELOPMENT

HERITAGE VICTORIA REJECTS QUEEN VIC MARKET PLAN

CITY COUNCIL TO REVISE MARKET REDEVELOPMENT PLAN

An artist impression of the proposed Munro site redevelopment.

Bought for $76 million in 2014, the site will feature a 38-level apartment tower, a hotel, a childcare centre among community facilities, and 503 car spots for market visitors.

It will also have open space, new laneways, a gallery, shops and 56 cheap housing units.

The project, with developer PDG, will have a total estimated value of $450 million, and is separate from the $250 million market redevelopment.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said the Munro development would allow the council to turn the existing market carpark on Franklin and Queen streets into a 1.5ha green open space.

“Imagine all the attractions of the market that we know and love right next door to a world-class park for Melburnians of all ages to enjoy,” he said.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said the Munro development would preserve the ­facade of the historic Mercat Cross Hotel and boast high green and design standards.

“There’s nothing more important than the Queen Victoria Market, and we’ll always protect it,” he said.

Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood.

A laneway in the proposed Munro site redevelopment.

A council meeting tonight is expected to vote not to fight Heritage Victoria’s shock decision to knock back planned works for the market overhaul.

The authority ruled in March the bid to dismantle, repair and reinstate old sheds, as well as creating underground facilities, would have been culturally unacceptable.

Cr Wood said it was time for the council to negotiate a revised plan with Heritage Victoria that would include “some form of basement facilities”.

An artist impression of the proposed Munro site redevelopment.

Queen Victoria Market.

The Acting Lord Mayor conceded that the council had to do a better job of selling the market makeover to the public.

“This is a huge part of the city, and it is about protecting the heritage of the market and ensuring it’s got long-term sustainability ... but it’s as much about the delivery of new open space and creating or knitting together the CBD with North Melbourne, with West Melbourne.” he said.

Cr Wood called on market traders to be more vocal in support of the redevelopment.

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