Wednesday, 31 May 2023

 Samantha RATNAM (Northern Metropolitan) (12:54): (215) My constituency question is for the Minister for Planning. Yesterday I was troubled to read reports that the owners of the Preston Market in my electorate, Salta Properties, are threatening to evict market traders and close down the market by January 2024. Salta claims the eviction is necessary due to the planning controls proposed for the site, which will give the market heritage protection and retain the existing market buildings. Yet this appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to intimidate both the traders and the government into compromising on protection before the planning controls are implemented. Darebin residents, in my electorate, are seeking the help of the government to prevent the owners from shutting down the market and steadily driving the traders out. My question is, Minister: given this escalating threat to traders, will the government now urgently consider compulsory acquisition of Preston Market in order to save this vital social, cultural and economic asset?