Independent reviews of the Melbourne Wholesale Fruit, Vegetable and Flower Market, Epping, have concluded it is operating efficiently and effectively.
The work was undertaken to ensure that the trading environment at the market supported Victoria's horticulture industries to be globally competitive, highly productive and sustainable.
"I'm confident the Melbourne Market is doing the job it was set up to do, which is to support our horticulture industries to be productive, sustainable and competitive on the global stage," Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said.
"These reviews were an important step to ensure operations were properly assessed - now we've got a transparent and independent view of what's working and where improvements could be made."
The reviews follow a "root and branch" investigation inot the market, announced by former Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford two years ago.
A review of the market's financial and operational performance was undertaken by KPMG.
A technical review of the market's central cooling plant was undertaken by ISECO Engineering Services Ltd.
While some opportunities for improvement were identified in both reviews, the market's overall operating costs were found to be comparable with central wholesale markets in other states.
The market's central cooling plant was also found to be working efficiently.
KPMG interviewed 32 market stakeholders as part of the consultation process.
The market has 124 tenants, spread through a mix of large and small sections.
Those interviewed comprised mainly tenants, senior managers from the Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) and other market users.
The government committed to undertake a root-and-branch review of the market after tenants raised concerns about the cost of doing business at the market, and how the market was being managed.
Ms Symes has asked the MMA to report back on the implementation of the review's recommendations to track how they are being carried out.
The reports into the market's operations and central cooling plant can be found on the Agriculture Victoria website.
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Andrew Miller
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
I'm a general reporter with Stock & Land, with a special interest in irrigation issues. I completed my cadetship, with the Age, in 1980. Over my career, I've worked for ABC radio news (Mt Isa, Qld) and at provincial and suburban newspapers.
