Labor under fire from Greens and Liberals over Preston Market demolition

The Victorian Planning Authority, which has taken over the planning process for the privately owned Preston Market precinct, is planning to allow developers to demolish 80% of Preston Market and claims that the community is indifferent to the plans. These claims are based on a series of consultations that took place between 2018 and 2020 - but the greens and liberals are challenging those claims.

"The market's specific location in the precinct was not a key concern for the majority of people" the VPA cited in the preamble to each of their proposed Precinct Structure Plans.

However, the Save The Preston Market Action Group, a community group campaigning for the public acquisition of the market, contends that the VPA's consultation process was flawed, and the agency had previous intentions of demolishing the market before they consulted the community.

The Community Reference Group, held in 2018, was supposed to canvass the community for their views about the market and their desires for the site. Capire Consultants, hired by the VPA, were repeatedly told by the community that they wish for the market to remain as it is. Despite clear feedback, the consultants' recorded outcomes were completely contradictory to what was said. They claimed that the community was happy for the market to be demolished, just as long as "the essence of the market" was preserved in the new building.

"They promised that market size and ambience can be duplicated, but it is clear that the Victorian Planning Authority and the developers aren't going to do that. It is going to be much more like Northland"" - Chris Erlandsen, a Darebin Appropriate Development Association member who took part in the consultations. 

The CEO of the VPA, Stuart Moseley, who was recorded as being present at one of the sessions, downplayed and diverted the groups' concerns. He chose instead to promote the destruction of the Preston Market in favour of constructing a new shopping mall on the former Preston Markets site. Other VPA officials, architects, and representatives of the developers were also recorded pressuring the group towards approval for the demolition.
 

"The consultation sessions were very tightly controlled so that no one could chat to anyone else, we all had to focus on the consultants and what they were telling us" - Chris Erlandsen.
 

Labour and VPA's Lack of Democratic Process
 

This critical piece of consultation has been carried forward and is currently being referenced in the Standing Advisory Committee hearing by the Victorian Planning Authority, Preston Market Developments, and their expert witnesses as justification for the demolition of the market. This points to wider issues within the Victorian Planning Authority, which is under fire for its lack of democratic processes.

Recently the VPA came under fire from Melbourne City Council for completely ignoring the outcome of the Standing Advisory Committee hearing reviewing the Arden Precinct Structure Plan, in which a dispute over mandatory height limits, affordable housing provision, and sustainability between Melbourne City Council and the Victorian Planning Authority was ruled in favour of the Council. However, the Victorian Planning Authority subsequently ignored that ruling and proceeded with its plan.

The Andrew's Labor Government has come under fire from both the Liberal Party in this statement and the Greens in this statement for their planning processes. The Liberal Party have announced that they will conduct a Department of Planning-led review into the consultation process which they claim is completely inadequate. The Liberals also claim that the future of the Preston Market is under threat due to the Labor Government's "bungled planning process". If elected in November, the Liberals and Nationals promise to conduct a Department of Planning-led review of the planning and consultation process.

With those upcoming state elections in mind, the Save The Preston Market Group has prepared the following scorecard in respect to local candidates track record and policy in regard to preserving this vital public amenity:

There has been a massive uproar from the community about the planned demolition of the market. Community organising to save the market has been ongoing for several years, and most recently has resulted in the formation of the Save The Preston Market Action Group, which has been growing since its inception in 2021. The community group has collected over 10,000 signatures demanding the state government compulsorily acquire the market and put it in public hands. Darebin Council has heeded the community's calls and is also fighting to preserve the existing market, albeit with limited development surrounding it.

Save The Preston Market Action are urging concerned parties to raise concerns with local MPs in addition to ALP Planning Minister Lizzie Blandthorn MP (Member for Pascoe Vale) ahead of the State Elections on Sat, 26 November 2022.

To find out more or to arrange an interview with a spokesperson for the group, please visit https://savetheprestonmarket.com/ or contact the STPM Action group at savetheprestonmarket@gmail.com or 0469 896460.