Since its opening in August 1970, the market has become a Melbourne institution, abound with longstanding values and traditions.

But now market traders and council members are afraid of losing the “heartbeat of the local community”.

Up to 20 storeys of apartments could be built on the northern end of the 5.1-hectare site, according to plans drawn up by the Victorian Planning Authority and released for consultation last month.

The market would be repositioned to front Cramer Street, at the southern end of the site, and retain the existing fruit and vegetable shed to protect local heritage.

But most of the 120 stalls would be moved, allowing stallholders to keep trading during construction.

The planning authority has been reviewing the development rules for the precinct and fast-tracked the process after it was asked to identify projects “which are already significantly progressed, to unlock land for around 86,000 homes and 95,000 jobs across Victoria” in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Preston Market borders the Preston train station, which is being elevated as part of a level crossing removal project.

Buildings could be up to 12 storeys high to make room for between 4500 and 6000 residents looking for housing in the area.

Darebin Council has previously rejected development applications for the site, but a proposal to construct four buildings between nine and 14 storeys high was approved on appeal to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.

To strengthen its position, Council also called for Planning Minister Richard Wynne to intervene in a change.org petition, launched last month.

Darebin Mayor Lina Messina, whose first job when she was 15 years old was selling fabric for a Jewish trader at the market, said that this is an opportunity for the community to have its say and for the government to implement design excellence.

“We’re asking for the community to tell us what they want,” she said.

“There are lots of multicultural businesses that have been there for generations and generations.

“The market is a symbol of multiculturalism and we need to make sure that the development reflects that.

“There needs to be a community feel and lots of life; what has been proposed is dull and boring to me.”

A scene from the Preston Market in the 1970s. (Photo: Preston Market)

Mayor Messina claims the development is not sustainable, with too many buildings and not enough green spaces.

“I’m not against redevelopment; the market needs to change,” she said.

“But changing the footprint is changing the heart and soul of the market.

“There needs to be lots of greenery, not just six concrete towers.”

Sam Tarascio, managing director of part-owner Salta Properties, said the owners were committed to the success and longevity of the market.

“One of our biggest imperatives is to ensure the market is running continuously,” Tarascio said.

“In order to have that happen, we need to build a new market building on a part of the site that’s available so that we can then complete that and move the tenants across.

“We’re struggling to keep the current building fit for purpose; it’s old and dated and a market building needs to be safe, clean, environmentally-friendly and operationally efficient.

“We cannot do that with the existing buildings without closing the market for a period of time, and nobody would want that to happen.”

The polarised positions of the Darebin Council and Salta Properties have remained unchanged over the past 18 months or so; for Tarascio, the time has come to respond to the numerous requests from councillors and residents.

“The planning amendment will consider how much open space and greenery there needs to be, and what public spaces there need to be,” he said.

“Now is the time for those questions to be answered and we’re very keen to be part of the consultation process that’s currently under way.

“It’s an extremely long process and we hope that the process of finally approving the planning scheme is resolved as quickly as possible so that we can have more certainty.” 

Construction would be unlikely to begin until at least 2024.

The draft plans will be open for consultation until July 13 on the Engage Victoria website.