The opening of the Melbourne Market at its new premises in Epping has been delayed until the end of the month.
The new market was scheduled to open on Monday.
The state government announced the news on Wednesday morning after an eleventh hour meeting with the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) and representatives from the wholesalers association Fresh State last night.
A statement from the Premier’s office read that the MMA advised the state government that to ensure the market’s success at its new Epping site trading should be delayed until August 31.
“While the new market site has the necessary infrastructure and occupational health and safety standards in place for an August 3 opening, a small number of market tenants have been unable to complete their store fit-outs in time for Monday’s scheduled opening,” the statement read.
It said the MMA advised that about 20 per cent of tenants were in this situation, and the remaining 80 per cent were ready to move in.
However the president of the Victorian Vegetable Growers Association, David Wallace, said as little as 13 per cent of stores were ready to begin trading this week.
“Only 17 stores out of 130 were ready to go,” he said. “A lot of people still haven’t got their parking allocation or insurance organised.”
“At least common sense has now prevailed,” Mr Wallace said.
Trading will now continue at the West Melbourne site until the end of the month.
It’s is media statement, the state government said it had not made the call lightly.
“There has been extensive consultation with the market community over many years to address a range of issues about the move, and since coming to government representatives from our offices have been working closely with the Melbourne Market Authority to address individual concerns ahead of the move,” the statement read.
