Queen Victoria Market redevelopment given planning approval

UPDATE: WORK on Melbourne’s new-look Queen Victoria Market will begin in just a few months after being given the nod. SEE HOW IT WILL LOOK

• What’s really under Queen Vic Market
• Queen Vic plan ‘has few friends’
• Protesters fight Vic Market revamp

UPDATE: WORK on Melbourne’s new-look Queen Victoria Market will begin in just a few months after being given the nod.

The $250 million, five-year redevelopment of the landmark site can proceed with heritage and height controls declared.

Premier Daniel Andrews announced the state government had cleared the planning hurdles for the project, plus the $400 million development of the neighbouring Munro building site can now go ahead.

Strict planning controls will protect the market’s famous retail sheds. Picture: Nicki Connolly

The historic food buildings on the corner of Elizabeth and Victoria streets. Picture: Michael Klein

But the government has placed a height limit of 125m for the site on Therry St, which would allow for a 40-storey tower, well short of the council’s 60-level proposal.

The shorter building is still believed to make the project financially viable.

Council will have to work with developer PDG on a new design that will also include another building for social housing, as well as community services such as childcare.

But the shovels will start turning dirt as soon as September for construction of a greenhouse-style market pavilion on Queen St, being built for market traders disrupted when work on the main market starts in March.

Artist image of proposed Munro site redevelopment next to Queen Victoria Market. Picture Supplied

The proposed Munro redevelopment next to Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Supplied

Lord Mayor Robert Doyle said the business plan revealed that redevelopment had to happen otherwise the council-owned market would go under.

“Doing nothing is not an option,” Cr Doyle said.

The council will continue to pursue heritage listing for the market, he said. It has state protection, but the council is seeking national listing as a precursor to world recognition.

About 2500 jobs will be created during construction, with 60,000 jobs in the precinct upon completion. Traders gave the plans a mixed reaction on Tuesday, either apprehensive or resigned to the change.

Friends of the Market spokesman Phil Cleary said he did not believe the announcement would give Cr Doyle freedom to go ahead with his plan and that compromise was vital. Mr Cleary had serious concerns about the renovation and excavation of the sheds.

Planning Minister Richard Wynn was confident the heritage integrity of the sheds would be retained. “Queen Victoria Market and its history mean so much to so many people. We will never compromise it,’’ he said. The market has been operating since 1878 and, with 10 million visitors a year, is the state’s busiest tourist attraction.

[e-mail]

@IanRoyall