Melbourne Markets MOU 

The recent announcement of the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) by the Victorian Government and a Strategic Alliance representing tenants within the existing Melbourne Markets, is a major step forward for the industry in both Victoria and Australia.

The MOU addresses the issue of relocation of the Melbourne Wholesale Markets to a new site at Epping by 2011, and opens the door to tenant ownership of the new market by 2015.

The development of a new wholesale market in Melbourne will facilitate industry growth and investment in state-of-the-art facilities. This is obviously an excellent outcome for the industry which will again raise the bar in terms of the ongoing investment in new warehouse facilities that is being seen in all Central Markets across Australia.

The MOU also provides for Market traders to have greater involvement in the ownership and management of the new facility.

This is also an important step forward which has yielded positive outcomes in other Markets such as Sydney and Brisbane.

The comment made by the Chairman of the Strategic Alliance, Shane Schnitzler, at the time of signing the MOU that it gave Market tenants "a map to their future" in Victoria's fresh produce industry, highlights the strength of feeling which has existed.

From an industry perspective, this is an exciting time with the MOU providing an agreed framework to achieve the construction of a new Central market to service the fresh produce industry.

This is an exceptional outcome for both the Strategic Alliance and the industry.

My congratulations go to the Strategic Alliance, and in particular its Chairman, Shane Schnitzler, for what they have been able to achieve.