The Queen
Victoria Market hit the front page of Saturdays Age newspaper with no less than
3 articles about QVM including a key editorial about change in our city.
Traders were quoted as saying they needed more information about renewal before
they could pass opinion.
Lord
Mayor Robert Doyle talked about the need for a more varied and sophisticated
offering whilst assuring that the quintessential atmosphere or role as a fresh
food market would not be destroyed. There was plenty of reference to the
difficulties of creating car parking on an old cemetery and more reference to
pulling up sheds, fixing them, and putting them back down again. Much of this
has been heard before and it is apparent that we are not going to make too much
progress until the State Government signs off on the renewal project.
The Age's
Associate Editor, Shane Green, made some interesting observations in his
article titled "Please don't destroy all that we love about our
market". He talked about the nervousness associated with renewal and
"What looks good on the drawing board can often struggle in its real-life
application." A very sad example of this has played out at Perth's
Coventry Square Markets where a $60 million investment in a market complex
based on our own Queen Victoria Market is really struggling to exist just 18
months after opening. Over 50 shops have closed or changed hands and dozens
have been sued or threatened with legal action for breaking leases. The
character and atmosphere that permeates QVM cannot be bought or created.
Similarly, a "renewal" needs very careful consideration.
Traders
Representatives are conscious that their "no comment" approach is
less than ideal. We would love to be able to embrace and welcome a renewal
project for QVM but until the Board and Council take us in to their confidence
and reveal their plans we have little to embrace. Lord Mayor Doyle may be our
"White Knight" but it will take more than rhetoric to convince
traders.
Have YourSay - click here.
COMMENTS:
COMMENTS:
| 09/07/2013 00:40:34 | Redevelopment | I noticed in the article that we wouldn't be shown the plans till after they been approved by the state, doesn't that mean that it will all be in progress and we wont have any say? | Leah |