Plan for more carparks at Queen Victoria Market despite City of Melbourne transport strategy to reduce vehicles

CITY of Melbourne is pushing to ease traffic and reduce congestion in the CBD — but has now made plans for hundreds more car parks at the Queen Victoria Market.

AN extra 280 car parks are being proposed for the revamp of Queen Victoria Market even though the City of Melbourne’s own transport strategy aims to reduce the number of vehicles in the CBD.

Councillors will vote on Tuesday on a plan for 1000 car spaces, up from the current 720, at the council-owned market as part of its $250 million plan to renew the heritage-listed site.

It comes after the council’s recent transport strategy canvassed ideas to reduce the number of cars and ease traffic in central Melbourne, including a possible congestion levy.

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More car parks would be provided in the latest plan for Queen Victoria Market. Pic: Ian Currie

A total of 500 car parks will be provided in redevelopment of the Munro site, bordered by Therry, Queen and Franklin streets.

But the council report does not say where the other 500 parks would be located.

Depending on the final plans, it’s likely they would be underground at the southern end of the market or under the century-old sheds.

The current car park is expected to be converted into public space if the initial proposal was repeated.

Some traders were upset at the initial plans for the Queen Victoria Market. Pic: AAP

Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the plan for more car parks came out of feedback from market stallholders and customers.

“People do weekly shops, they want to be able to take their cars. It’s not the sort of thing where people are riding their bicycles to do the weekly shop,’’ Cr Capp said.

Cr Capp said the council was seeking a balance of transport modes in central Melbourne.

“There’s nothing in our transport strategy that says no cars in the city,’’ she said.

“At no stage is the city and the transport strategy saying ‘no cars’, it’s about how we better manage that.’’

Lord Mayor Sally Capp at the Queen Victoria market. Picture: Josie Hayden

The council is also proposing to set up a market “People’s Panel”, comprised of traders, customers, residents and other stakeholders to help decide the future direction of the ageing market.

“This is all about going back to the people who know the market, use it, and work at it — the traders, the customers and the community — and asking them how we can best invest in the future of Queen Victoria Market,” Ms Capp said.

She admitted the move recognised shortcomings in previous consultations with affected parties.

The market sheds are heritage-protected. Picture: Tony Gough

“Perhaps the way we went about it. was not satisfactory in terms of major stakeholders.’’

Last week, the council announced a new governance structure for the market, the first step in the council’s second attempt to reboot the ageing market which was added to the National Heritage Register last month.

The council has spent $16.9 million in its failed first attempt to push through the redevelopment.

The plans were blocked by Heritage Victoria, which raised concerns about dismantling and rebuilding of the landmark sheds.

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