Media Release

<html><body>
<h2>Media Release</h2>

The City of Melbourne has responded to trader and community feedback in developing a new plan for market infrastructure and car parking at the Queen Victoria Market that seeks to minimise disruption, maximise trader and customer experience, and preserve the market’s heritage. 

Next Tuesday, Councillors will consider an option to deliver market infrastructure and additional car parking including improved safety and amenities, trader storage, centralised waste and recycling facilities, as well as 1.5 hectares of new public open space.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/pictures/article-images/queen_vic_market_renewal_2019_lead.jpg" rel="gallery-all"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/queen_vic_market_renewal_2019_lead.jpg?itok=SgMBzcaB" width="580"></a>

<figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the 40-member People’s Panel and the 2015 Master Plan set the direction for the delivery of market infrastructure and the panel’s recommendations are being progressed.

“We’ve worked with traders, shoppers, residents, the Victorian Government, Heritage Victoria and the wider community to build a way forward that will allow us to create a thriving open-air market for generations to come,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Under the recommended option to be considered, $6 million will be invested to create cool and dry storage at fruit and vegetable trader’s stalls where it’s most convenient. The storage would be designed following extensive consultation with traders to get the designs right.”

“The plan for staged renewal would minimise disruption to traders and the market’s heritage. We’re progressing work to restore the heritage sheds along with plans to give traders the facilities they need to make it easier to trade at the market.”

The People’s Panel set a goal for the renewal to deliver 1000 car parks for market customers.

The option being considered by Councillors includes a $19 million investment to provide up to 500 customer car parks on a future Southern Development Site on Franklin Street outside the Hoddle Grid, with another 500 customer car parks already being delivered as part of the Munro development in 2021.

“Under the plan, once the new car parks are complete, the existing asphalt carpark will become a 1.5 hectare public open space called Market Square. We plan to prepare a design brief to create Melbourne’s largest new urban public open space,” the Lord Mayor said.

“The square will complement the market by creating places where people can eat and attend events and community festivals.”

Heritage Victoria rejected an earlier design for infrastructure that required digging under the heritage listed sheds.

“While this was disappointing, we want to move on for the benefit of traders and find a design that addresses the challenges facing the market while maintaining its heritage,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Other than the areas impacted by Heritage Victoria’s decision, there are many components of the original business case and renewal plan either underway or about to begin. The next step would be to do further design and costings to consider storage and waste facilities in Queen Street.”

Queen Victoria Market CEO Stan Liacos said the delivery of infrastructure and car parking is vital to traders and customers.

“It’s a much loved asset but investment is needed for the market to thrive. Traders want renewal to deliver things like power, running water, storage, refrigeration and adequate facilities for food waste and general rubbish.

“We need a design that causes the least disruption to day-to-day market operations during construction and I’m confident this option delivers this.”

Council worked with NH Architecture to develop the options for market infrastructure which were then analysed by SGS Economics and Planning. The revenue and cost inputs to the options analysis have been independently assessed by PWC who validated the assumptions.

SGS Economics and Planning found the option to be considered by Councillors “costs the least to implement, is the only option likely to pay for itself financially, and has the most manageable delivery risks”.

They found that for every dollar spent on the option being considered, $7 dollars would be generated in overall economic benefits.

The cost estimate for the proposed option can be delivered within the previously announced net budget of $250 million for the renewal program, including money already spent on restoration and the trader support program.

Andrew McDougall from SGS Economics and Planning said the infrastructure option being considered would generate significant benefits for Victorians.

“Our 30 year projections show the renewal designs stack up financially and provide significant economic and social benefits,” Mr McDougall said.

For more information view the video or visit <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/building-and-development/urban-planning/local-area-planning/queen-victoria-market-precinct-renewal-plan/Pages/queen-victoria-market-precinct-renewal-plan.aspx">Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal</a>

Lucy Sinclair | Media Adviser | T: 03 9658 8087 | M: 0432 850 239 E: lucy.sinclair@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
</body></html>

City of Melbourne

Reinvigorating the heart of Queen Victoria Market

<html><body>
<h2>Media Release</h2>

The City of Melbourne has refused 81 applications by JCDecaux for planning permits to display commercial advertising on public phone booths across central Melbourne.

Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Planning portfolio Councillor Nicholas Reece said the signage is not low impact, would negatively impact heritage places, conflicts with Council’s urban design objectives, and would result in streetscape and amenity issues.

“As custodians of the city we have a responsibility to maintain the quality of the streets and public realm. We don’t want people to be bombarded with oversized and intrusive commercial advertising on public infrastructure,” Cr Reece said.

“First and foremost cities are for people, and the interests of the people who use our streets must come first. We have heard loud and clear the complaints from the community that these new structures are distracting, impeding pedestrian traffic and negatively impacting a number of local retailers and businesses.”

Other Australian capital cities, and a number of councils in greater Melbourne, have also raised concerns the new super-sized phone booths are significantly disrupting footpath traffic and negatively impacting the public realm. 

Under the Telecommunications (Low-impact Facilities) Determination 2018, planning approval is not required to install telecommunications infrastructure provided it meets the criteria for 'low-impact facility'.

At 2.7 metres high and 1.2 metres wide, the new payphone structures are 600mm taller and 400mm wider than the older phone booths. They are also fitted with 75” LCD screens – which are 60 per cent larger than the previous signage displays – and which are programmed to show up to four advertisements per minute.

Accordingly, as well as rejecting the applications for advertising by JCDecaux, the City of Melbourne will apply to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal seeking an order that Telstra’s new larger phone booths do not meet the low impact criteria and therefore require planning approval.

“We’re seeking a ruling from VCAT that the supersized payphones should require planning approval,” Cr Reece said.

“With nearly 90 per cent of Australians owning a mobile phone, it’s hard to believe there’s a need for this many supersized phone booths in the central city. Indeed, these new structures are more like digital billboards masquerading as phone booths on the footpaths of our city.”

In October 2018, prior to receiving the 81 planning applications, the City Melbourne conducted community consultation on the impact of the digital advertising payphone structures.

Of the 338 contributions received via Participate Melbourne: 
• more than 90 per cent of respondents provided negative feedback 
• 84 per cent of respondents reported the billboards impacted their movement around the city 
• 81 per cent of respondents found advertising on digital billboards was distracting.

Walking trips within the City of Melbourne increased 14 per cent (by 38,000 trips) during a recent four year period. Cr Reece said “Travelling by foot is the most utilised mode of transport in the Hoddle Grid and as custodians of the city we have a responsibility to maintain space for people.” 

Additionally, analysis of the pedestrian network has found that if the walking connectivity within the CBD is reduced by 10 per cent, the value of the economy of the Hoddle Grid will be reduced by up to $2.1 billion per annum[1]. Pedestrian flow is vital to our city economy and, of course, retailers and other businesses.

Mandy Frostick | Media Manager | City of Melbourne | Town Hall Administration, 120 Swanston Street Melbourne 3000 | GPO Box 1603 Melbourne VIC 3001 
T: +61 3 9658 9452 | M: 0419 546 245 E: mandy.frostick@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
www.melbourne.vic.gov.au
</body></html>

Council refuses permits for supersized advertising

<html><body>
Media Release

The City of Melbourne’s Student Welcome Program will kick-off this week to welcome students ahead of the start of the academic year.

City of Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said the Student Welcome Program features a range of events to help international students settle into their new life in Australia.

“We want to support our international students settle into Melbourne and enjoy everything our great city has to offer,” the Lord Mayor said.

“We’re hosting sessions throughout March and April that gives students the inside local knowledge on where to shop, how to get involved in sports, local laws and even a complete short course on deciphering Aussie slang.”

“I’m particularly looking forward to the Lord Mayor’s Student Welcome, which will be part of the 2019 Melbourne Dumpling Festival on Friday 15 March to Saturday 16 March.

“This event will be a fun and exciting way to welcome students, answer questions and help them find their feet in Melbourne, all while enjoying delicious dumplings.”

City of Melbourne’s International Engagement Portfolio Chair, Councillor Philip Le Liu, said the program celebrates Melbourne’s cultural diversity and invites new international students to come together, make friends, learn about the city and, most of all, have fun.

“Melbourne’s international student population represents more than 59,000 students living or studying in the central city. We want to ensure students are given all the support they need to enjoy their time here.

“Our international student population is also a key economic driver, bringing in $32 billion across Australia each year.”

According to the recently released 2019 Times Higher Education World University Rankings, six of Australia’s top universities feature in the prestigious top 100, two of which are located in the City of Melbourne.

“Not only are our universities ranked among the best in the world, QS Best Student Cities 2018 named Melbourne the third best destination in the world for international students,” Cr Le Liu said.

“Melbourne is known as Australia’s cultural capital offering a huge calendar of events for international students. As a city, we have always ranked well for international students because of its desirability and student mix, thanks to a large and diverse student population.

“With a world-class reputation for hosting international students, it’s no wonder we welcome so many international students each year to our city and we take seriously our responsibility to support these students as they transition into life in Melbourne,” Cr Le Liu said.

To find out more about City of Melbourne’s Student Welcome Program, visit <a href="https://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/community/health-support-services/for-young-people/international-students/Pages/international-students.aspx">here</a>.

City of Melbourne Media Adviser: Claire Sinni, 0432 853 973 
(03) 9658 8642 / claire.sinni@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
Visit the City of Melbourne's Online Media Centre: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/mediacentre
</body></html>

City of Melbourne launches the 2019 Student Welcome Program

<html><body>
Media Release

A new program of Quick Response Arts Grants is being trialled by the City of Melbourne, in a bid to give the city’s creative communities more flexible access to funding.

Artists, creative practitioners and organisations can now apply for up to $4,000 in funding at any time, with support considered for unforeseen or unexpected opportunities arising at short notice.

This includes new works, specific elements of a larger project or for taking a project to another level.

Chair of the City of Melbourne’s Arts, Culture and Heritage portfolio, Councillor Rohan Leppert, said the trial would test Council’s ability to cut down wait times, providing vital funding for creative activities which add to the life and colour of the city.

“We’ve taken on board the creative community’s feedback by giving a new opportunity to access grants,” Cr Leppert said.

“These new quick response grants are open to artists and creatives across all disciplines, from music and dance to theatre and visual arts.”

The quick response model will see grant applications assessed on a monthly basis, with an initial pool of $49,000 set aside for the trial.

“The City of Melbourne is committed to investing in the arts and fostering our city’s creative community,” Cr Leppert said.

“While we continue to encourage applicants for the Annual Arts Grants Program, these quick response grants will allow us to respond to artistic events or programs which arise outside the normal timeframes.”

The outcome must be activated within the City of Melbourne, with the artist given six months to complete the work described in their grant application.

Grants are available to artists, creatives and small to medium arts organisations across all disciplines, backgrounds and career stages.

The Quick Response Arts Grants trial will run until 20 September 2019. Emerging artists and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander artists are encouraged to apply.

For more information, or to apply, visit the City of Melbourne Quick Response Arts Grants website.

City of Melbourne Media Adviser: Patrick Phillips, 0427 723 437 
(03) 9658 8736 / patrick.phillips@melbourne.vic.gov.au 
Visit the City of Melbourne's Online Media Centre: www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/mediacentre
</body></html>

Media Release

Editor's Picks

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Media Release

Editor's Picks

Receive the latest news stories to your inbox

Have something to contribute?

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.

Developments

New apartments

New townhouses

News

The latest real estate & off the plan properties & news, delivered to your inbox.