Thursday, 22 June 2023

Preston Market

Nathan LAMBERT (Preston) presented a petition bearing 4693 signatures:

The Petition of residents of Darebin and Victoria draws to the attention of the House that our much loved 50-year-old Preston Market is under existential threat from demolition. New plans proposed by the Victoria Planning Authority (VPA) will allow 80% of the market to be bulldozed to let 20 storey high rise towers to be built consisting of 2,200 apartments.

These plans are a massive overdevelopment designed to give the developer excessive flexibility to build what they want to maximise their profits. It will irreversibly damage the local character of the area and the heritage significance of Preston Market. The VPA’s plans fall drastically short of the community and traders’ expectations.

The petitioners therefore request that the Legislative Assembly of Victoria calls on The Hon Richard Wynne MP, Minister for Planning to immediately scrap the VPA’s proposed plans, commence compulsory acquisition of Preston Market to put it in public hands and ensure the market is not demolished but refurbished instead.

Ordered that petition be considered next sitting day.