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Residents slam market application

Residents slam market application

A planning application to establish a new design and gourmet food market in Southbank was met with great hostility from residents at August’s Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

Residents of the Melburnian and the Sovereign apartment complexes lined up to express their anger at the prospect of having their Saturday’s ruined by a weekly market at the forecourt of Australian Centre for Contemporary Arts (ACCA) on Grant St.

If given the green light, “The UpMarket” would operate from 9am until 4pm every Saturday and consist of 80 stallholders arriving from 7am and exiting at 6pm in a “bump-in, bump-out” system to set up and pack up shop.  

Councillors were expected to approve a planning permit for the event, but instead voted to delay its decision in the wake of strong opposition.

Melburnian resident Ray Hill was first to question council officers’ support for the proposal, arguing it included no amenity report on residential impact.

“By its size and presence, it will intrude upon the capacity of residents to enjoy the amenity of their surrounds and their homes,” he said.

Fellow Melburnian resident Francis Galbally said the market had no place in the arts precinct, labeling the planning of traffic, parking, emergency access to the Domain Tunnel and waste management as “a ridiculous joke”.

“This is a flea market in what is supposed to be a cultural, educational and recreational area,” he said.

“It’s a joke, have a good long look at it, because the residents of Southbank aren’t happy and if you approve it, the residents of Southbank won’t be happy with you.”

Sovereign resident Alan Ross directly addressed UpMarket’s managing director Belinda Buckley during a heartfelt submission, questioning claims made that consultation had taken place with residents.

“Belinda I don’t know who you’ve spoken to but I’ve certainly never been contacted by you.”

With limited parking at both residential towers, Mr Ross said a permit approval would mean his grandchildren could no longer visit him on a Saturday.

Ms Buckley was quick to dismiss claims of a “flea-market” and assured council that a more comprehensive consultation and analysis process would be carried out.

She said it was essential for the design market to run every Saturday to be credible and that organisers had exhausted all options over a three-year process in trying to establish a home.

A final decision on the permit application was deferred to September’s Future Melbourne Committee meeting.

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