Queen Victoria Market board marginalised in bid to revive $250m renewal program

THE troubled $250 million redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market will be overseen by a new group, with today’s changes going much further than new Lord Mayor Sally Capp’s election promise.

Customers at Queen Victoria Market.

THE board of Queen Victoria Market has effectively been sidelined as Melbourne City Council tries to salvage its troubled $250 million redevelopment of the city icon.

A committee of trustees including trader and Aboriginal representatives will be appointed to oversee the controversial plan and also advise on the market’s general operations.

HERITAGE VICTORIA REJECTS QUEEN VIC MARKET PLAN

SALLY CAPP PLEDGES COMMISSION TO OVERSEE MARKET PLAN

MARKET TO UNDERGO MAINTENANCE BLITZ

Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Federal Environment Minister Josh Frydenberg celebrate Queen Victoria Market being added to the National Heritage Register. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

The proposed renewal suffered a big setback in March when Heritage Victoria knocked back proposals to dismantle and refurbish old sheds and put in an underground carpark.

Lord Mayor Sally Capp promised during the recent by-election campaign to set up a committee of trustees if she won, but the changes announced by the council today go much further.

Under a report to be considered by councillors next week, the current board will be made smaller with board members not replaced as they retire.

Artist's impression of the revised market pavilion earlier proposed as part of the Queen Victoria Market renewal project.

Council CEO Ben Rimmer has also asserted his authority by revealing he will join the smaller board as an ex-officio director.

The board is chaired by Paul Guerra and members include 3AW spruiker David “Mann about Town” Mann and former champion cricketer and Melbourne Grammar headmaster Paul Sheahan.

Cr Capp tried to put the best spin on the decision to marginalise the board.

“While Council has been very well served by the QVM Pty Ltd Board, these new arrangements will mean that traders, customers and the broader community are more directly represented,” she said.

“The … renewal program is critical to the market’s future and we need to ensure that it has the best possible operating model, to not only deliver the program, but to better

engage with, and get the views and ideas of, those directly involved.”

Ms Capp will chair the 10-member trustees committee that will comprise three traders, two community representatives, two independent nominees and a further two city councillors.

Recently appointed market CEO Stan Liacos will continue to be responsible for the day-to-day operations.

Lord mayoral candidate and opponent of the council’s market plan Phil Cleary said that if Cr Capp was serious she would appoint him as one of the trustees.

“Sally Capp and the council have to accept that the plan they put on the table is doomed,” he said.

Mr Cleary said that as the spokesman for the Stallholders Action Group and through his general experience he could help develop a renewal strategy that was respectful of the history and social and cultural fabric of the market.

Cr Capp said she was not surprised by Mr Cleary’s ambition to become a trustee.

“Isn’t it great that people are jumping right into that sort of detail. To me it means that they are endorsing the approach,” she said.

The Lord Mayor denied that the governance changes were a slap in the face for the board.

“This is nothing do with a reflection of the board’s performance — it’s setting up a better governance structure so everybody can be more effective,” she said.

“By doing this what we’re saying is to everybody at the market who’s interested in the market, this is a high priority for the council ... and we are reflecting that by actually making our most senior officer a member of that board.”

Cr Capp said if the new governance structure was approved at next Tuesday’s meeting, the council would be able to move forward more confidently with its renewal plans.

Board chairman Paul Guerra said he was proud of the board’s achievements such as the recent national heritage listing and the approval to develop the so-called Munro site next to the market.

“We are delighted to be able to deliver it to this point,” he said.

Mr Guerra said the governance changes would enable the market renewal to move forward successfully.

He expected several board members to retire at the annual general meeting due in October.

A report to councillors prepared by Mr Rimmer acknowledged legal issues involved in the changes to the board and the council CEO becoming a board member.

“(It) will give rise to a number of complex issues in respect to management of roles and conflicting interests,” it said.

“Despite these challenges, the changed governance structure is considered the best way to ensure traders, customers and the community have a direct voice in the QVMR project, and the Council and QVM Pty Ltd are working in unison.”

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