Queen Victoria Market revamp could be disrupted by angry protesters

EX-Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating has voiced fears over the $250 million Queen Victoria Market redevelopment, as opponents threaten to disrupt works on the project.

OPPONENTS of the $250 million Queen Victoria Market redevelopment have threatened to disrupt works on the project.

Hundreds of protesters held a rally at the market today as former prime minister Paul Keating raised concerns about the plan.

Mr Keating said the market didn’t “need fixing up”, and he was worried that the heritage sheds would be damaged while being dismantled for refurbishment.

Phil Cleary addresses Queen Victoria Market redevelopment protesters. Picture: David Crosling

“(The City of) Melbourne is trying to list this as a heritage site but there’ll be no heritage left, there’ll be just stripped up new buildings,” he told ABC Melbourne radio.

Under the city council redevelopment, the carpark will be turned into a plaza and new underground facilities provided for traders.

But state Planning Minister Richard Wynne has raised doubts about the plan, including a related deal to offset the project’s cost by building a 58-storey tower and new carpark on the market’s edge.

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Former independent federal MP and failed lord mayoral candidate Phil Cleary told the rally that Lord Mayor Robert Doyle wanted to destroy the world’s best open-air market.

“He wants to rip (out) those sheds and he wants to send the bulldozers in and dig a massive excavation — what kind of development is that?” he said. “Hands off our market.”

Anti-redevelopment activist Mary-Lou Howie said the market had been saved from destruction in the early 1970s and the fight was on again.

A protester at the rally against Queen Victoria Market’s redevelopment. Picture: David Crosling

“It’s as iconic as the MCG … a refreshing alternative to supermarket shopping,” she said.

National Union of Workers national president Caterina Cinanni, who is trying to unionise the market traders, said the battle would start if attempts were made to pull down a shed or relocate traders.

Cr Doyle said the market redevelopment had been a key council election issue last year, and his team had won a majority.

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“We will certainly listen to legitimate concerns but the redevelopment will proceed,” he said.

“We’ve got to think about our beloved Queen Victoria Market being relevant and prosperous into the next century.”

On Mr Keating’s intervention, the Lord Mayor said he was surprised.

“I can only presume he’d need Google maps and an Uber to get there.”

The city council is waiting for Mr Wynne to sign off on a key planning amendment to allow the market plan to go ahead.

@JMasanauskas