Government bureaucracy now threatens the viability of the entire Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal Program.
We will appeal this baffling decision which puts 60,000 future jobs, a new public open space and vital community facilities at risk.
The independent business case by SGS's highly respected and regarded Marcus Spiller (April 2016) stated that the renewal project would spur a $1.2bn net community benefit to Victoria.
The business case was updated in July 2017. It found that Queen Victoria Market Pty Ltd has not made a profit in five years despite the City of Melbourne agreeing to take a reduced return from its subsidiary company. Without action, Council will be forced to further subsidise the company's operations at an estimated cost to ratepayers of $100 million over the next 30 years.
The benefit to cost ratio is 5:1 which is extremely high. This compares with the Melbourne Metro Rail Project at 1.5:1.
Heritage Victoria's decision has blindsided us: they have not consulted SGS to interrogate the veracity of their assessments. The public have a right to see the business case upon which Heritage Victoria have made this decision but this has been a closed door, bureaucratic process.
Strengthening of the heritage sheds must occur: it is an OHS issue, they are at danger of buckling during strong winds. If you don't renovate and repair heritage structures they will crumble, fall and be lost forever.
I find it hard to believe that they can restore the Parthenon but we can't restore the heritage sheds at Queen Victoria Market.
The temporary removal and repair of the sheds is needed to provide back of house logistic services and parking for traders.
I hope this is a call to action to the traders who want the renewal to go ahead. There are many demands on the Council budget. It's time for those traders to stand up and show their support.
On 11 July 2017 the Premier and Minister Wynne gave a joint press conference with the former Lord Mayor to announce the business case.
The Victorian Government's media release lauded the "desperately-needed repairs to the internationally-renowned market", the creation of jobs and "the delivery of new cold storage facilities, power, and modern toilets, as well as improved car parking and pedestrian access."
More than 60 comprehensive studies have been undertaken for every aspect of renewal including economic assessment and business cases, heritage studies, thematic studies, retail plans, masterplans, conservation and cultural heritage plans, structural and sustainability plans.
The former CEO of Heritage Victoria wrote to the City of Melbourne in 2016 stating of the proposed works: "we understand the rationale for this and accept your advice that there is a need to treat the structures off site and also to ensure their structural strengthening."
We have gone through every rigorous step in good faith: our only goal being to secure the market's future forever. It now seems the Queen Victoria Market will be loved to death.