Melbourne Market

The Melbourne Market is a wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower trading center.

Plenary’s role encompasses the provision of various asset management services including facility maintenance, maintenance and lifecycle planning, market operations, security, cleaning and waste, grounds and help desk support. Plenary Asset Management was appointed by the Melbourne Market Authority as facilities management partner and in that role have assisted with the transition to the new Epping site which successfully opened on 31 August 2015.

Design features

The Melbourne Market is fundamental to Australia’s fresh produce industry.

The Epping site is in close proximity to Melbourne’s freeways, allowing easier inbound delivery from farm to market and outbound delivery locally, interstate or overseas.

This gives the Market significant food handling and logistical advantages and will open opportunities for traders to export. Being able to consolidate operations within the Market has the potential to reduce handling, transport and labour costs.

The Market facility will also reduce the environmental impact of the site. It is equipped to harvest and treat rain and storm water, generate solar electricity, and allow better management of waste towards a recycling target of 95 per cent. Extensive consultation, observation and international benchmarking has delivered a market that is modern and efficient. It is underpinned by the idea of establishing new environments that allow businesses to conduct their tasks more easily, safely, and with the ability to manage costs more effectively.

Plenary Asset Management was appointed by the Melbourne Market Authority as a facilities management partner and in that role have assisted with the transition to the new Epping site.

Innovations

The new facility provides a larger, safer and more efficient facility for the buyers and sellers by allowing the operations to be consolidated within the market, significantly reducing handling, transport and labor costs.

Local economic impacts

The new Epping facility will provide businesses and buyers with a safer, cleaner and more efficient market – providing benefits to the horticulture industry, the environment and the Victorian economy.

The market’s close proximity to Melbourne Airport will help horticulture growers and exporters supply more premium Victorian produce to key international markets.

Victoria’s $2.4 billion horticulture industry employs more than 9,000 people and accounts for more than half of Australia’s horticulture exports, worth $894 million.