Lina Messina: Independent

1. To date, what actions have you taken to support the saving of the Preston Market? Please list your actions.

My connection to the Preston Market began in the late 1970s, shopping there with my mother. By the late 1980s, I was actively involved in the community, volunteering as a translator and selling material to the multicultural customers who sewed their own clothing. In 2016, my passion for the market led me to campaign for its preservation, which became the driving force behind my decision to nominate for council.

I’ve been deeply committed to the "Save the Preston Market" cause, attending numerous rallies and participating in the very first meeting at Melbourne Polytechnic, facilitated by Maria, Chris, and Manny. At the Planning Committee, I rejected the planning applications that threatened the market. I also took part in meetings at the VCAT hearing and watched meetings that were streamed online.

As Mayor of Darebin Council, I cast the deciding vote that shifted the policy direction from that of the previous council term, which increased planning controls and set a new course for the market’s future. This decision led to the update of the Heart of Preston submission and campaign, which garnered a record number of submissions to the VPA, along with a petition that received unprecedented support. Our marketing and media efforts, including multicultural language outreach, media interviews at various stages, and forums with traders, played a key role in its success.

This issue remains central to my work, and it’s why I’m running for my third campaign. My mission remains the same: to preserve an open-air, affordable fresh food market that celebrates diversity, inclusion, and culture.

2. Public acquisition of Preston Market will ensure the improvement, greening & community management of Preston Market. Do you support the public acquisition of Preston Market? 

Your question isn’t entirely clear. When you ask if I support public acquisition, are you referring to state, federal government, or council acquiring the market?  When we speak about the Preston Market, we must acknowledge that the it  is currently owned by three separate property owners. Are you asking about the market's footprint, the total land owned by Salta, or the other interconnecting two sites? I’ll need more context to fully understand and respond to your question. As a dedicated supporter of the market, I believe it's important to clarify these points before providing an accurate answer. My current campaign centres around "Protect what we Love, Create what we Need." Preston urgently requires biodiverse open spaces that foster community connections, especially south of Bell Street. So, yes, I strongly support the creation, implementation, and management of a much-needed urban revitalisation in our municipality. Places of social connection are paramount for all. 

3. The Victorian Planning Authority acknowledges that the planned Preston High Street Activity Centre will create up to 15,300 new dwellings & put more pressure on already lacking public open space in Preston. Do you agree that public acquisition of Preston Market is crucial to addressing this problem?

Biodiverse open spaces are essential for the well-being of our communities. We also need a broader range of housing options, including owner occupiers, investors, social, and affordable housing. From my understanding, Salta is leaning towards a build-to-rent model, which may increase the presence of Airbnb’s while allowing developers to bypass Developer Contributions Levies,  If I’m not mistaken, this is compounding problem for Preston. .

No matter what, we must ensure that Preston Market remains an open-air, affordable space that continues to support its intergenerational traders. This is crucial to preserving the market’s unique identity and role in the community.

4. If you are elected, will you move a motion within the first 6 months to support & advocate for the public acquisition of the Preston Market?

As a councillor, my role is to initiate a motion to produce a report.  We cannot move a motion to support or advocate for the public acquisition. In this case, I would move a motion to request a report by a certain date that will give the officers enough time to research and table a report, that explores the possibility of state or federal government involvement in publicly acquiring the market. Public Acquisition of the Market to my understanding will be influenced by the uplift which would be beyond council’s budget. A council must be financial sustainable and we do not have over $140M in our short or long term financials to purchase the market.

We would have to stop all service deliverables, not build any other infrastructure including a Reservoir Leisure Centre. Public Acquisitions must be undertaken by the state or federal government.  My Motion would also ensure that report address a Preston Market Traders committee, with an MOU for full transparency and who would undertake the property management of the Market. The report would also need to include the state of the antiquate underground infrastructure, any potential soil contamination, given that a tannery once occupied the site.

A councillor's first step is to move a motion for a report. Once that report is tabled, we can support, advocate for, and address the recommendations. So, my answer is yes, but only after the proper governance procedures are followed.