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QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET LANDS BILL
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14 November 1996
Second Reading
TEHAN
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QUEEN VICTORIA MARKET LANDS BILL Second reading Mrs TEHAN (Minister for Conservation and Land Management) -- I move: That this bill be now read a second time. The Queen Victoria Market is situated on various parcels of Crown land permanently reserved for market purposes and managed by the City of Melbourne by virtue of Crown grants that restrict the use of the land to market purposes. A focus of government in the restructuring of municipalities was to ensure a concentration on core local government business. With the City of Melbourne, one of the unique matters for determination was the future management and operation of the Queen Victoria Market. Although not regarded as a core activity of council, it is one of the prime commercial and tourist facilities within the city with significant heritage status. Decisions on future management arrangements needed to have regard to these issues, together with the desire to bring a much stronger business emphasis to the market's operation. In January 1995 commissioners of the Melbourne City Council determined to establish a wholly owned subsidiary (QVM Pty Ltd) to operate the market. In supporting this approach, government is now required to rearrange the land tenure situation by revoking permanent reservations and providing for the grant of the land to the City of Melbourne. The rights of stallholders and others with an interest in the market will not be affected by the legislation. The market site comprises two distinct parts, the area occupied by the heritage buildings and the car park. For the former area, consideration has been given to the substantial capital investment effected by council in refurbishing the historic market sheds, the provision of a new food hall and revitalisation of the meat market. Given these circumstances and in view of the fact that the heritage fabric of the property is protected by its inclusion on the Victorian Heritage Register, government has determined to grant the land to the Melbourne City Council without consideration and with its use restricted to market purposes. Major redevelopment of the car park area is proposed by council in the form of construction of a multi-deck, public-use car park. Clearly this component of the market is not subjected to the constraints of the developed area and should be regarded as a commercial asset with sale effected to the council at market value, to be determined by the Valuer-General. To ensure the area's continued association and benefit to the market area, the grant will restrict use of the site to car parking and municipal purposes associated with the adjoining market. Owing to the fact that the market site was used as a burial ground from 1837 to 1917, recent redevelopment by council has required a degree of sensitivity in the nature and location of construction works. Within the area subject to redevelopment was a portion of the burial ground used by the Aboriginal community. Although excavation works within the area of concern to the Aboriginal community and specifically the Wurundjeri tribe is governed by the provisions of the Commonwealth's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Heritage Protection Act 1984, a more specific commitment to the interests of the Wurundjeri tribe was sought. This recognition will be provided in the form of an agreement pursuant to the Commonwealth legislation and Section 173 of the Planning and Environment Act 1987, the parties to which will be the Wurundjeri tribe, Melbourne City Council and the Minister for Planning. I now turn to the particular parts of the bill. The bill provides for the revocation of permanent reservations and the closure of portions of two roads affecting the Queen Victoria market site to facilitate the granting of the land to the City of Melbourne. Part 1 of the bill sets out the purposes of the bill and provides for its commencement. Clauses 3,4 and 5 provide for the revocation of the permanent reservations and Crown grants existing over the land and divests the land from the City of Melbourne and vests it in the Crown. Clause 6 provides for the closure of portions of Queen and Peel Streets. The portion of Queen Street to be closed is situated between the general market area and the meat and fish areas of the market. The Peel Street closure involves a small strip of land that was set aside for use as a road along the eastern side of Peel Street. The area is now part of the market. Clause 7 provides that the Governor in Council, on behalf of the Crown, may grant to the City of Melbourne the Queen Victoria market site, subject to any terms and conditions that the Governor in Council may determine.
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Clause 8 saves any existing leases over the site and clause 9 details the process for the Registrar-General and the Registrar of Titles to make the necessary amendments to the records of enrolment, any memorials and the titles register. Clause 10 repeals the various acts relating to the site namely, the Melbourne General Market Site Act 1877, the Melbourne Lands Exchange Act 1904 and the Melbourne General Market Lands Act 1917. I commend the bill to the house. Debate adjourned on motion of Ms GARBUTT (Bundoora). Debate adjourned until Thursday, 28 November.