This
week’s decision by Heritage Victoria to refuse approval for the QVM underground
construction is seen by some as the end of a key plank of QVM Renewal and by
others as just a slight delay in the inevitable process that will see a long
term city plan come to fruition.
The
plan for construction of an underground labyrinth of service facilities for the
fresh food offer in the upper market required removal, repair, improvement and
re-assembly of old market sheds and apparently Heritage Victoria were not
satisfied that the plans offered adequate protection of those sheds.
You
may think this is purely a professional assessment of a construction proposal
although the lack of feedback by Heritage Victoria to the CoM suggests there
was a significant element of politicking going on here. In fact, we understand
that the first phone call by Heritage after the decision was made, was not to
CoM but to the Age newspaper.
There
is also a belief that the State Government is attempting to avoid any serious
decisions on the market until after the state election at the end of the year.
It was certainly a mystery why Heritage Victoria had to ask for an extension of
time to consider this matter last December without any apparent attempt to get
more information before this week’s decision.
But
that is all speculation, and offers little comfort to traders looking for some
positive direction for a struggling market. The realities of small business
retailing and politics just do not seem to share the same bed. The CoM have
indicated they will appeal the Heritage decision and we can expect more
activity behind the scenes over coming weeks and months.
One
thing is for sure - the continuing fight against a professional planning
project by CoM has two major consequences - it is wasting a lot of money, and
it is ignoring the plight of struggling market traders. If we don’t get on with
addressing this retail revolution and preparing QVM for the next 140 years,
there are many who believe that we will be placing a grand old Market at
serious risk. For many in the Upper Market it is already too late. We
understand two more traders left this week and another has set next week for
their departure.
One
trader this week had a suggestion that may bring a bit of light to a dark
tunnel. He suggested we should proceed with the New Market Pavilion. Why wait
for the bureaucracy to get its act in order?
The
NMP is partly intended to house relocated traders but it also to be a showcase
for what QVM can offer. While the Amazon’s of this world continue their assault
on retailing we can show how QVM addresses modern retail presentation and the
growing demand for customer convenience.
QVM will always be about tradition but
having a location (NMP) that draws a bridge between the old and the new makes a
lot of sense. Speaking of bridges, the pavilion will bridge the Upper and Lower
markets a lot better than a roadway. The NMP will show the best in stall
presentation, and allow experimentation in trading hours and content. It could
become a key to how our market relates to new consumerism. That is an exciting
prospect.