Community and Traders kept in the dark on future of Preston Market.

The fate of Preston Market remains unknown as a report from the Victorian Planning Authority's Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) is being withheld from the public by the new Victorian Planning Minister Sonya Kilkenny. 

Following the SAC hearing, which took place in late 2022, a report containing a recommendation to the minister on the future of Preston market was supposed to be made public within five weeks. However, ten weeks later it is currently in the hands of the minister, the VPA and selected politicians but is not being released to the public.

Community campaigners in the Save The Preston Market Action Group say this secrecy is typical of the entire planning process for Preston Market, which was flawed from the outset. 

"The Victorian Planning Authority and the developers SALTA and Medich have been intent on knocking down the market from the beginning, with a view to maximizing their profits. Now it looks like the new Minister for Planning Sonya KilKenny is happy to sideline the community and the traders in favor of entertaining the VPA and the developer's plans" said George Kanjere on behalf of the group.

"The process is supposed to be a public and democratic process which delivers the best outcome to the community, yet there is endless interference, secrecy, and preferential treatment given to the developers’ vision rather than what the community wants. This happened during the sham consultation process, and it’s happening again now.” 

“The community and the traders deserve to know what is happening in relation to the market, but as usual we will be the last to know." Kanjere said.

The Save The Preston Market campaign has been active for over two years and recently had a significant impact in the state election where they strongly supported community independent Gaetano Greco, who campaigned on saving the market and other local issues. The seat of Preston, previously a very safe Labor seat, recorded an almost 15% swing against the ALP candidate Nathan Lambert, who only just managed to hold on to the seat in a knife-edge contest. 

"The community's voice was loud and clear at the state election," said Gaetano Greco. "Saving Preston Market from being demolished and keeping it in its current form is of the utmost importance, but the continued secrecy by the state government and the VPA suggests they are siding with big developers and still treating the community with contempt"

The Action Group has collected over 10,000 signatures in support of the government publicly acquiring the market in order to ensure its protection and are planning to present it to the Planning Minister.

For further information contact George Kanjere on 0469 896 460