Market problems must be fixed before opening
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Market problems must be fixed before opening

With the opening of the new Melbourne Fruit and Vegetable market having been delayed, State Member for Gippsland East, Tim Bull, has asked the Minister to ensure all the problems affecting country businesses are resolved before the gates are opened.

Speaking in Parliament this week, Mr Bull said regional businesses are reporting numerous issues, with inadequate secure sleeping bay facilities for rural drivers who travel over four hours to reach the market one of many issues which disadvantage those from the regions.

“The market authority has requested drivers park at the nearest service station which is a security risk given drivers carry sums of cash for ‘cash buying’ at the market, but even when they get in there is a major shortage of undercover loading and unloading areas.”

Mr Bull said these two matters he raised in Parliament this week were not the only concerns that needed to be resolved.

“The market authority is now charging each driver $27.50 per year for their individual access cards. For a company like Bon Accord locally with a lot of drivers this will equate to a significant cost that is currently not charged at the current market or other interstate markets.

“There also appears to be a lack of understanding that many drivers reach the market after 10pm, but the market authority administration is not open at this time to take photos for these individual access cards.

“This is a significant access problem with the opening only a month away.

“Large trucking companies are also saying there is inadequate parking for B-doubles at the new market, so there are a few issues to be resolved and with potential impacts on local business operators they need to be addressed before the gates are opened,” Mr Bull said.