Queen Victoria Market redevelopment permit rejected by Heritage Victoria

The redevelopment of the Queen Victoria Market is up in the air after Heritage Victoria banned some of the historic sheds from being temporarily removed during construction.

The City of Melbourne said it has been blind-sided by the shock decision and will immediately appeal.

“This puts in jeopardy the entire project,” Acting Lord Mayor Arron Wood said.

The council wanted to dismantle 20 percent of the sheds to excavate three levels down for added car-parking and storage.

The sheds would then be refurbished and put back in place after construction.

But Heritage Victoria rejected a permit, meaning the 140-year-old structures can’t be touched.

Council had argued the business case for the $250 million revamp stacks up.

And if nothing is done, the Queen Vic will continue to waste away.

Marcus Spiller, whose company conducted the business case, said its customer base had flat-lined over recent years.

“The place is suffering an incremental decline. If we do nothing, the market will die…it will become a skeletal remains of a once vibrant place,” Dr Spiller said.

The controversial redevelopment has divided opinion among traders.

Wine seller Marshall Waters said the upgrade is desperately needed.

“I can’t see that there’s any issue with dismantling them, refurbishing them, which they desperately need and putting them back together again,” Mr Waters said.

But market advocate Phil Cleary said restoring the sheds would tarnish the market’s heritage.

“This is a victory for the people and it’s a victory for common sense,” he said.

The Planning Minister has also opposed the sheds’ temporary removal and wants council to rethink its plan.

“It really speaks to the need for the City of Melbourne to work much more closely with us in the redevelopment of the market,” Richard Wynne said.

Source: 9News