On Tuesday April 2, Melbourne City Council will consider a new plan for the Queen Vic Market after Heritage Victoria scuppered a previous proposal in March 2018.
The contentious former plan would have seen the market’s iconic sheds dismantled for the creation of underground storage and car parking, then reassembled.
Under the new plan, $19 million would be invested in 500 new parking spots at a future Franklin Street site outside the Hoddle Grid. This is on top of the 500 parking spots currently being built at the Munro community hub on the corner of Queen and Therry Streets.
Once the new car parks are complete, the existing car park would become a 1.5 hectare open space called Market Square, to be completed by 2026. It would be “Melbourne’s largest new urban public open space,” according to Lord Mayor Sally Capp.
Instead of the underground storage proposed in the rejected plan, $6 million would be invested in creating 2200 square meters of cool and dry storage for traders at their stalls, who will be consulted on the designs.
Three key areas of the market would also receive upgraded facilities: Queen Street north would get centralised waste and recycling facilities; the Former G Shed would get dedicated loading facilities, trader storage and waste management for the fish and meat hall; and Queen Street south would get loading facilities, market administration, operations and events storage, public amenities and retail spaces.
The new plan is said to be deliverable within the previously announced $250 million budget allocated for the market renewal.
