Darebin Appropriate Development Association

Protect our community

Save Preston Market

Preston Market Update: Threats to Close

The owner of the majority of the market last week threatened to close the market: https://www.theage.com.au/politics/victoria/preston-market-owners-threaten-to-shut-it-down-over-planning-war-20230529-p5dc6d.html

This is an about face. There are many articles in the press, one example below, where a variety of representatives of Salta Properties, including Sam Tarascio have promised the market would not be closed.  We cannot trust this man who has no regard for the market or the community.  The market can only be saved by acquisition and  placing it in public hands, managed by a community representative committee.

A Short Political History of the Community Fight to Save Preston Market

In the 9 years to date, community groups, including Darebin Ratepayers, Darebin Progress Association and DADA, have combined to prevent the owner/developer from destroying Preston Market.

From that early time, the community campaign evolved in its membership and connections to advocate with various State Government departments, Darebin Council, politicians and political parties and Councillors.

The “People for Preston Market” was launched in July 2014 as an election issue for the Greens candidates in the Darebin Council election, although no Greens Councillor has ever been actively involved in the community fight.

In 2016, the baton was handed to “Save Our Preston Market” and saw the battle lines drawn between Greens, Labor and Independent candidates to use the community campaign for their political advantage in the Council election of that year.

The well attended rally in May of that year saw many candidates turn out for the photo op.  For the first time, the Vic Socialists were represented by the City of Yarra Councillor Steven Jolly who orated on the corner of Murray Rd and Mary St.

SOPM continued to drive the community effort with DADA through VCAT mediation and a 7 day VCAT hearing in 2017.

SOPM was effectively dissolved by the time DADA made an application to Heritage Vic. for Preston Market to be listed on the State Heritage Register in 2018. The community effort was essentially driven by DADA and a single Darebin Councillor.

“Save The Preston Market Coalition” was convened in 2020 by a Darebin Councillor with a SOPM Facebook administrator and DADA reps.  It was a small group which then morphed into “Save the Preston Market Action Group” in 2021 and chiefly consisted of an independent Darebin Councillor, members of the Victorian Socialists and DADA reps along with concerned community members.

In the course of ongoing change, community members with political aspirations have joined and tried to influence or control our work, while we have strived to remain true to our charter. https://www.darebinada.org/about-dada

DADA is not aligned with any political group or politician and is dedicated to our community with the view to making our neighbourhoods a better place to live.

Preston Market Update: Recognition of DADA’s part in saving the market

Congratulation messages:

Dear Maria

Congratulations to you as the President and stalwart of the campaign to save Preston Market
Kind regards
Anne Laver
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Thanks Maria for the email and thanks for all the work you and the association has done a great result.
David
(David Rayson, original architect of Preston Market)
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Dada is amazing… even tho there are many unknowns.
Congrats, Dada, on what you HAVE achieved.
Inspirational!
???Chookas!
Barry Pearce.
(Preston Market architect and designer)
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Preston Market Update: Many Thanks

We are taking a breath and raising a glass to celebrate the decision of Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny to recognize and protect the heritage significance of Preston Market and keep it where it is.  We are particularly pleased that she has recognized the aesthetic and technical significance of the design and fabric of the market as well as the cultural and social significance.

It has been a nine year battle by the community, so far, with VCAT, The Heritage Council, owner developers, councils and the state governments.

There has been a long list of people who have worked with DADA and whose actions have been integral in getting us to this point.

The community effort was born with the People for Preston Market, a small group of folk who first recognized the market was under threat.  Thank you, Jim Buckle and Mark Tregonning for seeding the movement.

Save our Preston Market most importantly ran a Facebook page, fought the VCAT case, organized a successful protest at the market and worked especially hard in bringing some councilors on board. Thank you to Lori-Anne Sharpe, Russell Haywood, Marion Harper and Jessica Doyle for your work on behalf of the community.  Thank you to everyone who participated in the protest, it was important.  A special thank you to Dr Jane Stanley for her expertise and presentations at both VCAT and to Darebin Council.

There were a number of community members who represented DADA in the very time consuming Victorian Planning Authority consultation process.  Many thanks, Chris Erlandsen, Stewart Midgley and Anne Laver.

Like-wise it was a community effort to argue the case for a state heritage listing at The Heritage Council of Victoria. Though we didn’t get the listing this effort was a significant step in the final recognition by the minister.  A big thank you to all those who presented on behalf of the community including, Barry Pearce and David Rayson, the original architects, and Suriyan Nalliah.

The Save the Preston Market Action Group is the most recent iteration of the long community effort.  Members of this group have made a significant effort to collect signatures on a petition to go to parliament, organize community picnics and to participate in the Standing Advisory Committee process.  Special thanks to Laura Fazio, Chris Erlandsen, Con Lambros, Bonnie Gordon, Zheng Chin and George Kanjere.

Gatano Greco played a significant role in bringing Darebin Council on board and in running a successful campaign to make Preston a marginal state seat.  Many thanks for your work.

Most recently, thank you to Nathan Lambert for your willingness to meet with us, listen to our ideas and concerns and for representing these to the Minister for Planning.

Many apologies if your effort has not been highlighted here.  A big thank you for your help.

Special recognition and heartfelt thanks goes to DADA Vice President, Chris Erlandsen, who has tag teamed with me for nine years to ensure the community is heard and represented. Together we have read and said hundreds of thousands and written tens of thousands of words in the campaign.  We have spent many late nights and early mornings speaking to the press, asking questions at council and arguing the importance of the market to anyone who would listen.  Long may you prosper.

Cheers, Maria Poletti.

DADA President.