CEO Update to Melbourne Market Business Principals – 10 September 2015

We are well into the second week of trade at our new home. I continue to be impressed with the level of care taken by most Market users to do the right thing and make sure we are all working in a clean, safe and enjoyable workplace. However, it is important that we continue to work at fostering behaviours to ensure the site functions the way it was intended. Below you will find action required on pooling equipment accounts, a reminder about parking and separation of vehicles on site and a City of Melbourne and City West Water rates update.

Pooling equipment accounts- action required

As I’m sure you are aware, the Operating Rules require all Market businesses to hold a current pooling equipment account. If you don’t use pooling equipment, or use pallets which are not provided by a supplier, you can complete a statutory declaration advising this is the case.

Market Relations Officers will be paying a visit to Fruit and Vegetable businesses who haven’t advised the MMA of their pooling equipment account number or provided a statutory declaration. Failure to advise the MMA about pooling equipment use by 25 September means all access cards associated with your business are at risk of being de-activated.

Mailboxes

The Market offers store holders, stand holders and warehouse 5 and 6 tenants onsite mailboxes for an annual fee of $75 incl GST. Market mailboxes offer a safe and convenient place to have your business mail delivered.

Stand holder mailboxes are located within the fruit and vegetable trading floor close to the Customer Service Centre. The mailboxes for warehouse 5 and 6 will be located within the warehouse area.

To secure your mailbox, please download an application form and return to the MMA with annual payment by Friday 18 September.

Change of address

Please remember that you need to change your business address from West Melbourne to Epping by 30 September to ensure mail delivery.

Separation of vehicles at Epping

As highlighted in Tuesday’s edition of This week in the Market , in the interests of safety, Business Principals are reminded to encourage their staff to ensure:

• Use of designated forklift routes.
• Appropriate vehicles are parked in appropriate bays. Remember, no passenger vehicles parked in truck parking.
• Produce is delivered to loading bays adjacent to parking bays (not left in the parking bay).
• For further explanation refer to Parking factsheet.

As per Market Operating Rules demerit points are applicable for non-compliance. Any demerit points incurred by an individual are also incurred by the employers’ business. View Infringement Schedule on our website.

Please ensure that if you’ve been allocated your parking bays, you’ve paid and collected your permits from Ground Floor of Administation Building open between 5.30am – 10.00 am Monday – Friday.

Remember the associated conditions with parking permits mean Permit Holders must not assign, sub-licence or transfer parking permits. Those caught engaging in any illegal activity associated with parking permits risk eviction from the Market and cancellation of leases or licences.

Now that the Market community has had time to settle into our new home, enforcement of the operating rules will be stepped up to ensure the Market can function as efficiently as possible and as the design intended.

Tomorrow a Market Circular will be distributed to the Market community reminding all about how parking needs to operate.

Store build update

Fruit and vegetable store holders are reminded that if you have an issue with the build of your store you are encouraged to speak directly with your builder. If you have any problems relating to the base build of your store such as faulty roller doors or general maintenance you can call the Help Desk on (m) 0437 006 459 or visit the website to log an enquiry.

Rates Notices for West Melbourne

The MMA is aware that tenants have received council and water rates notices in relation to their tenancy at West Melbourne.

The MMA is in the process of dealing with both City of Melbourne Council and City West Water to have revised notices issued to everyone to reflect the termination of your tenancy at West Melbourne. We hope that these revised notices will be out to tenants by the end of September and thank you for bearing with us while we resolve this.

I trust you’re enjoying your new Market.

Regards,

Mark Maskiell
Chief Executive Officer