Preston Market is the heart of the northern suburbs. More than 80,000 people shop, meet and connect there every week. A new draft development plan now puts that at risk, and submissions to the Minister for Planning close on 28 October 2026 at 5pm.
Make your submission on Engage Victoria →
What’s in the draft Preston Market Precinct Development Plan?
Demolition of the market building: the fruit and veg sheds and the southern shed would be knocked down. The fruit and veg area would be “rebuilt” underneath car parks and apartments.
Eight towers of 8 to 16 storeys around the market, with about 900 new homes and only 10% of them “affordable”.
Big-box retail like Kmart, Bunnings and supermarkets, competing directly with market traders.
Parking and congestion problems: roughly the same number of car parks would have to serve far more shops, putting pressure on Murray Rd and Cramer St.
Why this consultation matters
The community has had just two weeks (now extended after community pressure) to review more than 140 pages of plans. Once the Minister approves the plan, later planning permits are exempt from public notice and third-party review. This is our only chance to have a say.
The Preston Activity Centre changes everything
The State Government’s Preston Activity Centre will allow up to 15,000 new homes along High St over the coming decades. That’s potentially 25,000 more residents. Preston will need a genuine town square more than ever, not a crowded high-rise mall at its centre.
What we’re asking for
Fix our market now: repair the electrical and sewage systems and upgrade the facilities. The plan itself confirms this can happen while traders keep operating.
Public acquisition: keep the Preston Market in community hands for generations to come. The market is profitable, and buying it would cost around 0.3% of the state’s yearly spending on public assets.
We’re not against development or new housing. We’re against putting developer profit ahead of a community asset.
How to make a submission in 5 minutes
Go to the Engage Victoria submission page.
Say who you are and what the market means to you. A short personal submission carries the most weight.
Say clearly that you oppose the plan, and why.
Ask your friends and family to submit too. Every submission counts.
Need help? Read our step-by-step submission guide, which has a copy-and-paste template, and our full statement on the plan.
We’ve linked hands around the market before, and we’ll do it again, for as long as it takes.
