The $3m cost of council’s failed bid to redevelop Queen Victoria Market

Melbourne City Council spent more than $3 million on its failed bid to push through its redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market, including over $800,000 on plans for a temporary pavilion which was never built. See the full breakdown here.

Melbourne City Council spent more than $3 million in its failed bid to push through its redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market. Picture: Tony Gough

More than $3 million was spent in Melbourne City Council’s failed bid to push through its redevelopment of Queen Victoria Market.

The outlay on the doomed plans to renovate the century-old sheds and excavate the site was $2.3 million.

MARKET PROJECT FACES HERITAGE LISTING HURDLE

PLAN FOR MORE PARKING SPACES

The next set of proposals for the Queen Victoria Market redevelopment is expected in March or April. Picture: Tony Gough

Another $822,000 was lost on plans for a temporary market pavilion which was never built.

The Herald Sun can reveal the breakdown of the $18.5 million already outlaid on the council-owned market renewal project, which stalled after five years.

Some expenses covered broader planning and consultation as well as preparation for the nearby Munro site redevelopment currently under construction.

The overall cost of the project administration and the program office, including 15 full-time staff as well as consultants, has cost ratepayers $7.235 million.

Town Hall is now working on new plans for the 140-year-old market on the CBD’s northern fringe after Heritage Victoria torpedoed its original plans to dismantle and rebuild the open-air sheds.

The next proposals are expected in March or April.

The market renewal budget is set at $250 million.

A city spokeswoman said the costs associated with the below-ground infrastructure project and new market pavilion represented “less than 1 per cent of the overall expenditure” for the redevelopment.

Planning and design costs for the temporary pavilion totalled $822,000. It was never built.

“The program delivery and set-up costs represent common and necessary establishment costs for any program of works of this nature, along with ongoing program management costs,” she said.

“We are continuing to deliver the QVMPR program and it is inaccurate and misleading to suggest any of those costs have been ‘lost’.”

Lord Mayor Sally Capp set up a people’s panel late last year to provide broader input into the plans. Other improvements to the market area, such as an electrical works, toilet upgrades and better lighting, have also been carried out.

HOW THE COUNCIL HAS SPENT $18.524m ON THE MARKET

– Improvements such as pedestrian crossings, toilet upgrades, planter boxes and lighting, 2016-18: $650,000

– Elizabeth St lighting: $19,000

– String Bean Alley retail upgrade plans: $18,000

– Sheds A-H below ground infrastructure plans, Heritage Vic application: $2.304m

– New market pavilion planning, design: $822,000

– Shed A laneway greening: $81,000

– Public realm workshops and research: $105,000

– New Franklin St connection: $123,000

– Munro site development: $2.3m

– Electrical upgrades in sheds: $1.25m

– Planning scheme amendment C245: $868,000

– Implementation framework: $333,000

– Sustainability research and submissions: $166,000

– Program administration and office: $7.235m

– Costs before launch of program office: $2.505m

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@IanRoyall