Steph Price: Victorian Socialists 

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

I have personally been actively involved in the campaign to save the Preston Market for a number of years. I have attended most, if not all, of the public or community events called as part of the campaign (e.g. recently - Protest Outside Nathan Lambert’s Office – Feb 2023, Town Hall Meeting - May 2023, Hands Around Preston Market - August 2023). During 2023, I also participated in the Save Preston Market Action Group Meetings (SPMAG). 

At every opportunity, I have publicly advocated to save the market from the developer’s wrecking ball and for public acquisition to ensure its long-term protection for community benefit. 

As a Victorian Socialists candidate in the most recent state election, I campaigned, (alongside other candidates in support of the market) to make the issue of the market, a key factor in the election, including: 

• Regularly door knocking in the local area, highlighting our policy of saving the Preston Market and discussing the campaign with local residents. This included distributing Save The Preston Market Action Group campaign material as well as Victorian Socialists campaign material, which highlights the issue;  

• Organising leafletting and street stall at Preston Market to distribute SPMAG material to market goers;  

• Made prominent reference to protecting the Preston Market on key electoral material; 

• Raised the issue at candidates’ forums, including calling on the Labor candidate Nathan Lambert, to support the demand for public acquisition. 

Victorian Socialists, as a party, has over a number of years, consistently supported and participated in the campaign to build community opposition to the destruction of the Preston Market. This has included public political support and advocacy for the community campaign’s key demand (policy, campaign material, social media). Our members have participated in the campaign organising group and attended community gatherings, stalls and meetings. We have assisted in the distribution of campaign material and publicised campaign activities.

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?

Yes, and I have personally publicly advocated so, as has the Victorian Socialists. 

Public acquisition by the state government via purchase or compulsory acquisition of the site is the only way to permanently protect the Preston Market. This must occur to preserve its current footprint, existing character and unique social value.

The state government has the legal capacity and demonstrated willingness to acquire land for public purposes. 

A beloved community asset shouldn't be held hostage by major corporate interests, it should be under the control of the community who use it and love it. I therefore see acquisition of the market as key to its protection. This is reflected in our policy platform which states: Immediately impose mandatory planning controls over the site prohibiting its demolition and any new development, purchase or compulsorily acquire the site, impose heritage protections and permanently maintain operation of the existing market on its current footprint and, through a community-led process, develop plans for upgrades or improvements that do not undermine the market’s cultural, social and heritage value.

https://victoriansocialists.org.au/policies/cities

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?

As long as the market is under private ownership, the risk is that the key driver of its future use will be maximum profit generation for its wealthy owners. This will include the construction of the maximum number of dwellings on the site to “unlock” the most “value” (e.g. generate the greatest profit for the developers that own the site). All other considerations are incidental or secondary to the achievement of the greatest development yield, including community connection, neighbourhood amenity and the creation of open spaces. 

Previous draft plans for the market site have included minimal open spaces that are dominated by the scale of the surrounding apartment buildings. The impact of such an approach will be exacerbated by the housing density anticipated as part of the growth of the Preston Activity Centre.

It is imperative that the Preston Market site is protected from this dynamic and is placed under public control so that a genuinely community-led process, absent the profit motive, can ensure that the site contributes to positive community, social and amenity outcomes.

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?

Yes.