Created by the Stallholders and Residents Group (STAR Group) this petition raises awareness of serious concerns with the practicality, communications and timelines proposed by the multi-million dollar Queen Victoria Market 'Gurrowa Place' redevelopment with Lendlease.

The current proposed design has a number of issues the City of Melbourne and Queen Victoria Market Management have been made aware of but are choosing to ignore.

Stall Holders and Residents are tired of their repeated concerns and warnings being ignored and want real action before the historic Queen Victoria Market is irreversibly damaged or lost.

The redevelopment plan needs to go back to the drawing board so that truly works for everyone - not just to tick boxes and please developers.

MAJOR CONCERNS

DELIVERY TRUCK LIMBO

Council and QVM have ignored feedback for years that redevelopment plans fail to take into account where large delivery trucks will unload and remain parked during market operations. None of these trucks will fit in an underground carpark.

The current proposed plan does not allow any space for trucks, which both Council and QVM are aware of and still have no solution for.

This is estimated to impact up to:
- 25 trucks for fruit and vegetable traders.
- 8 trucks for meat, fish and deli traders.
- 25 trucks for general merchandise traders.

CHRISTMAS CHAOS

In order to hand over the Franklin Street storage sheds that the Council has done a deal to give to developers, half a dozen fresh produce traders have been told they need to be out by mid-January 2024. This is despite the ‘consultation period’ for the redevelopment still not being finalised by this date.

There has been no clear communication about how much of the existing market carpark (the main carpark) next to these heritage-listed storage sheds will be closed at the same time.

This is a massive risk to the peak trading time of the market over December and January, including the Christmas rush.

FINANCIAL PAIN WITH NO GAIN

Council and QVM have informed impacted traders that there will be no financial support provided to any traders who need to move operations or are impacted by the redevelopment timeline given to them.

Instead, in August 2023 all traders were given written notice they would all receive a rent increase in 2024, plus additional fees related to waste management and electricity fees.

CONSTRUCTION ZONE CONCERN

The current redevelopment will result in the market existing within or adjacent to a major construction zone for years on end.

This will make the market extremely difficult for customers, traders and residents to access.

There has been no communication to traders about how the economic and cultural impact will be managed to ensure that all parties are not disproportionately disadvantaged in order to facilitate the development.

Please sign our petition supporting stallholders and residents who want the QVM redevelopment plan to go back to the drawing board until there is a design that actually works for EVERYONE, not just the developers and Council!