People’s Panel

                    Market with fruit and vegetables
                    The Queen Victoria Market People's Panel was established to give traders, customers and the community a greater say on how best to deliver critical market infrastructure through the renewal program.

                    ​​​​Forty people with a passion for the market came together over six workshops to develop the People’s Panel Report including 14 recommendations and a minority report.

                    People’s Panel Report updates

                    We are tracking our progress against the recommendations of the People’s Panel Report and will provide regular updates on our current actions and activities.

                    September 2019 update

                    March 2019 update

                    People's Panel Report

                    The Queen Victoria Market People’s Panel concluded its deliberations on market infrastructure and car parking on Monday 19 November 2018.

                    At the final workshop the panel has developed 14 recommendations, each achieving a ‘super majority’ where 80 per cent of the panel could ‘live with it, like it or love it’. The report included a minority report prepared by one group of panellists. All deliberative processes, such as People’s Panels, allow for minority reports to be written by people from the panel.

                    These recommendations were detailed in the People’s Panel report which also outlines the engagement process, panel’s remit and guiding principles.

                    Read the report:

                    Queen Victoria Market People Panel’s Report (PDF 861 KB)

                    Queen Victoria Market People Panel’s Report (DOC 197 KB) 

                    Future Melbourne Committee – 10 December

                    The People’s Panel report, including management’s recommendations, was formally presented to the Future Melbourne Committee meeting on Monday 10 December for consideration by Councillors.

                    The Future Melbourne Committee accepted the People’s Panel report and thanked all panel members for their hard work and commitment to the process and endorsed a clear path forward. Council requested City of Melbourne management immediately progress seven recommendations, further analyse three recommendations and referred a further three to QVM Pty Ltd for consideration. 

                    Council requested a report be prepared in the first quarter of 2019 including analysis of the provision of market infrastructure at G Shed, car parking for vans, buses and large vehicles as well as further investigation of the minority report and the implications for the Implementation Framework and Business Case. In addition to the 500 car parks in Munro, Council asked management to investigate an additional up to 500 car parks in the precinct with the current at grade car park to become an open space once transitional parking there is no longer required.

                    Full details are outlined in the meeting minutes or view a recording of the meeting.

                    Overview of the People’s Panel process

                    ​The People’s Panel included 15 traders from various areas of the market, seven customers and seven local residents. These 28 participants were drawn from 5600 invitations to nominate, and selected through an independent stratification process. In addition to these 28 participants, 11 key stakeholder groups nominated a representative.

                    The panel deliberated over six workshops and participants were provided with technical reports, information and evidence to assist deliberations. Subject matter experts and relevant authorities such as WorkSafe, Victoria Police and Heritage Victoria were invited to provide their technical expertise, with the panel able to request additional advice.

                    Before the panel started deliberations, participants agreed to a set of key principles to guide the provision of market infrastructure. The panel considered and assessed a range of potential options to deliver market infrastructure and car parking within the precinct, in line with these principles.

                    A probity advisor from OCM was appointed and attended each of the workshops to ensure the integrity of the process.

                    Details of the panel’s deliberations were shared via Participate Melbourne.

                    People’s Panel remit

                    The People’s Panel was specifically focused on forming recommendations (DOC 66 KB) on how to deliver facilities at the market for the market operator (Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd), traders and customers, including car parking. The People’s Panel did not revisit if renewal is needed or happening.

                    The overarching challenge the People's Panel focussed on was:

                    We all love and want to protect the authenticity and theatre of the Queen Victoria Market, but current conditions mean it is struggling to meet essential safety and security standards, and it is in physical and financial decline.

                    How do we safeguard the market’s future by providing a thriving business environment for traders and a vibrant and flourishing market with better amenities for customers?

                    Key documents

                    Before the People’s Panel began its deliberations panel members were provided with:

                    • A background reading kit: giving an overview of the Queen Victoria Market, the site’s important heritage and key legislation and relevant planning controls covering the market precinct. It also includes an outline of the market renewal program to date and the operating challenges and needs of the market, including feedback from traders and customers.
                    • Queen Victoria Market People’s Panel Background Reading Kit(PDF 4.25 MB)

                    Background

                    In September 2017, City of Melbourne made applications for both heritage and planning approval for the below-ground market operational areas, customer car parking and the heritage shed restoration (Quarter 2 - Q2).

                    View the plans (PDF 4.3 MB). 

                    On 27 March 2018, Heritage Victoria issued a refusal to grant a permit for the dismantling, restoration and reconstruction of the western section of Sheds A to D, and the construction of a three level basement (plus mezzanine) accommodating customer car parking and trader facilities (Q2). Heritage Victoria publicly released the office​r’s report on the permit refusal to the Queen Victoria Market People’s Panel in October 2018.

                    Following Heritage Victoria’s permit refusal, there was a 60 day period in which to appeal the decision to the Heritage Council of Victoria.

                    At the 15 May Future Melbourne Committee meeting, the last opportunity before the appeal deadline, Council decided not to appeal the Heritage Victoria permit refusal, determining that working with Heritage Victoria, traders, customers and key stakeholders would be in the best interests for the market and allow a timely resolution to delivery of crucial market infrastructure.

                    In August 2018, Council resolved to establish a People's Panel to deliberate on how to deliver market infrastructure. An independent selection process identified market traders, customers and local residents to join key stakeholders on the 40 person People’s Panel.

                    Queen Victoria Market People’s Panel Background Reading Kit
                    Queen Victoria Market People’s Panel Background Reading Kit PDF 4.25 MB
                    pdf 4.25 MB

                    More information

                    ​Further updates will be shared throughout the process. If you have any questions, please contact the Renewal team via email at qvmrenewal@melbourne.vic.gov.au or phone 9658 9658.

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