THE state's peak agricultural lobby group is in favour of the delayed new Melbourne Market opening.
Thr Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) has welcomed the state government’s decision to delay the opening of the Melbourne wholesale fruit and vegetable market at its new Epping site until August 31.
VFF Horticulture Group president Owen Brinson said opening next Monday (August 3) as scheduled was not feasible.
“Flower, vegetable and fruit growers needed time to get refrigeration, fit-outs, parking, phone lines and other works completed," Mr Brinson said.
The Victorian Government only announced on Wednesday that the ribbon cutting would be pushed back from August 3 to August 31.
The Melbourne Market Authority reported about 20 per cent of tenants had not completed their store fit-outs in time for Monday's scheduled opening, and to ensure the overall success of the transition, the market opening date should be delayed.
Major Projects Minister Jacinta Allan said the decision was not made lightly: "There has been extensive consultation with the market community over many years to address a range of issues about the move, and since coming to government representatives from our offices have been working closely with the Melbourne Market Authority to address individual concerns ahead of the move."
Successive state governments have for a decase, worked on moving the market from Footscray (where it has been since 1969), to Epping in Melbourne's northern suburbs.
Its development has been marred by setbacks, and criticisms from storeholders about enormous rent increases and a lack of space at the new wholesale market.
Fruit Growers Victoria welcomed the opening delay, saying that the schedule would have pushed workers to do "exceptionally long hours".
Last week, the organisation also outlined its concerns about "dangerously narrow" forklift traffic ways.