FLOWER wholesalers and growers relocating to the Epping wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market will pay 7 per cent less than their current rents when the facility opens, according to the state government.
The 67 tenants of the flower section of the new market in Coopers Street were last week awarded stands after a ballot.
Minister for Major Projects David Hodgett said the
ballot was an important stage in “removing uncertainty for flower growers and wholesalers” in their relocation to Epping.
“The Victorian Coalition government’s priority is to complete this important process and get the market up and running in 2014-15,” he said.
“When the new flower market opens, complete with superior dedicated facilities, flower market tenants will pay about
7 per cent less than they do now for stands and cool rooms,” he said.
Melbourne Market Authority chairman Neil Lowe said the ballot process was the “cornerstone of a smooth transition to state-of-the-art facilities at Epping”.
