Queen Victoria Market revamp: Melbourne’s Lord Mayor issues ultimatum over $650m upgrade

UPDATE: THE State Government has poured cold water over Melbourne City Council’s $650 million plan to revamp the Queen ­Victoria Market precinct.

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THE State Government has poured cold water on Melbourne City Council’s $650 million plan to revamp the Queen ­Victoria Market precinct.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne said today that the project “does not have a lot of friends” and he wouldn’t be rushed into a decision on its future.

“This is a precious asset for our city, let’s get it right,” he said.

Mr Wynne was responding to an ultimatum from Lord Mayor Robert Doyle to approve the plans or risk the project being scrapped.

The council is worried that concerns over the height of a proposed 196m apartment and hotel tower will jeopardise the market’s ­much-needed refurbishment.

The City of Melbourne said the redevelopment of the so-called Munro site, bounded by ­Therry and Queen streets, would deliver 5000 construction jobs, on top of 12,000 jobs created by the overhaul of the market opposite it.

An artist’s impression of the proposed redevelopment. Picture Supplied

An artist’s image of the proposed Munro site redevelopment next to Queen Victoria Market. Picture Supplied

Shoppers at the market. Picture: Michael Klein

The proposed Munro redevelopment. Picture Supplied

But the council fears ­that Mr Wynne, a critic of the tower’s proposed height, is ­delaying a decision on a planning ­amendment.

A frustrated Lord Mayor Robert Doyle, releasing new images of the project, said that unless Mr Wynne approved the amendment soon, tight planning and construction deadlines would be disrupted.

“If we can’t get this project off the ground (by June), then it does start to put the whole Queen Victoria Market project at risk,” he said.

Questioned about the worst-case scenario, Cr Doyle said bluntly it was that “the ­redevelopment of Queen ­Victoria Market does not proceed — that’s how serious it is”.

The tower is to go on land council bought for $76 million.

Central to considerations is an independent panel’s recommendation for a discretionary 100m height limit for the proposed planning amendment covering the Munro site.

If and when this is adopted, council will argue that its plan for the site justifies a 58-storey building almost twice the discretionary height limit.

It argues the proposal by developer PDG Corporation is sleek and elegant, and far superior to the alternative of an “ugly” smaller tower that would be too bulky for the site.

But today, Mr Wynne said his department had to deal with a project that was almost double the discretionary height recommended by an independent planning panel.

“I reject any notion that I’m stalling. My job is to consider this matter in a proper and timely fashion and to take advice from my department about that,” he said.

“This project does not have a lot of friends, I’ve got to say. Obviously the traders clearly don’t support it, many of the customers at the Queen Victoria Market don’t support it.”

Also speaking today, the Lord Mayor said he and the council were happy to work with Mr Wynne to resolve any issues, but a decision was needed soon.

“Tomorrow would be good (but) I don’t think that’s going to happen,” he said.

“Whether you are looking at environmental or economic or architectural or social elements, this project ticks every box in a way that no other project has for the last 25 years in the city.”

Cr Doyle also said offsetting tower height considerations were $90 million in public benefits such as new childcare and family health centres, a community centre and kitchen, parking for market patrons, artist spaces, and 56 units of ­affordable housing.

An artist’s image of the proposed redevelopment. Picture Supplied

The Munro site redevelopment would also involve the creation of laneways and a pocket park.

“We don’t want to see a poor quality apartment tower there, or a major supermarket moving in next to the market,” Cr Doyle said.

Last July, Mr Wynne said council’s wish for a tower of up to 200m was “well out of scale with this important historic site”. It is understood his department only recently received independent technical advice on assessing council’s proposed market amendment.

Mr Wynne’s spokesman said yesterday the City of Melbourne had invested heavily in the site and was naturally keen to get the best outcome.

“But there still needs to be a measured and considered approach to any proposed development,” he said.

“Any application will be considered on its merits. This is a significant site … so it’s important to get it right.”

Group claims redevelopment, tower will ruin historic precinct

AARON LANGMAID

TRADERS at Queen Victoria Market have savaged plans to redevelop the historic precinct, with fears the proposed revamp will doom one of the city’s most popular attractions.

While most shoppers back­ed an overhaul yesterday, the market’s Stallholders and Trad­ers Action Group urged the State Government to dump the concept, even calling for the market’s board of management to be sacked.

It comes as the City of Melbourne unveiled a grand plan for a sustainable mixed-use ­development, including a 196m tower.

Traders George Chinn, Jenny Pyke and Terry Woods just want what's best for the market. Picture: Michael Klein

But operators, many of whom have run stores for more than 40 years, fear the proposal could rip the heart and soul out of the area.

STAG spokesman and former mayoral candidate Phil Cleary lashed Lord Mayor Robert Doyle’s plan, saying it was “ill-conceived, mad and personally motivated’’.

“Robert Doyle is addicted to residential towers, at a time when everyone else knows they are not designed to solve the housing shortage,’’ Mr Cleary said. “Many of these towers are coming at the expense of our residential heritage and urban history.’’

Shoppers inside Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Michael Klein

Scores of shoppers yesterday said a revamp was well overdue.

But long-time operator Jenny Pyke said business owners sought a revitalisation, not a redevelopment.

“It just has to be sensitive to the site and based on the needs of the market and its traders,’’ she said.

“These plans seem to undermine the market.’’

Critics also pointed to the efforts of former premier Steve Bracks who, during his tenure, urged a thorough consultation process between the council and traders.

“We have been dictated to,’’ one trader said. “We want a redevelopment but subject to us having input into it.’’

Butcher Terry Woods said: “It does need to be cleaned up, but there needs to be a ­balance.”

George Chinn, who started work at the market as a fruiterer with his father in 1947, said he opposed the revamp.

“Scrap it,’’ he said. “It will kill our business and it will kill the heritage of the place.’’

Thousands of supporters have used a Friends of Victoria Market Facebook page to back Planning Minister Richard Wynne over his decision to delay approval.

“(Cr Doyle) and his developer mates just want to turn Melbourne into a soulless mega city,’’ one member said.

Cr Doyle said a key priority would be to ensure the site was not overdeveloped.

“We have incorporated design elements that honour Queen Victoria Market’s rich and diverse history,’’ he said.

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