After months of protests and legal threats, the longstanding dispute at Melbourne’s wholesale market has finally reached a resolution. The Victorian government-run Melbourne Market Authority (MMA) in Epping announced it has signed new leases with all 17 stallholders involved, bringing an end to eight months of intense tension.
The conflict escalated in October last year when the MMA revealed plans to increase rents by between 6 and 7.6 percent annually over the next decade. This announcement sparked widespread protests from vendors, who feared the rising costs would significantly impact the price of fresh produce for consumers.
In April, the Valuer-General stepped in, proposing a revised rate of annual rent increases between 2.4 and 3.6 percent. Despite this compromise, the MMA issued a warning that legal action would follow if the stallholders refused to sign the new lease agreements.
Now, MMA chair Peter Tuohey confirmed that all 17 tenants have agreed to the new lease terms. “We’re pleased to have reached a resolution that provides our tenants with clarity about their future at the market,” he said. “We understand it has been a challenging period, but this outcome offers stability and certainty, allowing the market to focus on its core mission delivering the freshest fruit and vegetables to Victorians.”
The agreement marks the end of a tense chapter for Melbourne’s produce vendors, who had expressed ongoing concerns about the affordability of rent and the potential for further legal action. With the new leases in place, both vendors and the market can now move forward with renewed stability.
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