Coronavirus (COVID-19) update – Monday 30th March 2020, FLOWER MARKET
- Social distancing essential
- Free parking extended to Flower Market tenants
- The Melbourne Market, including both the fruit and vegetable market and the flower market, continues to remain open
Free parking extended to Flower Market tenants The MMA already announced we would be providing free parking to all flower buyers during the April to June quarter and this has now been extended to Flower Market tenants. The State government is currently working through options for possible rent relief for eligible tenants. While we don’t know precisely what possible rent relief might look like just yet, we are approaching the issue with flexibility, and with our tenants’ best interests front and centre as we await further clarification on this issue. Social distancing To reduce the risk of an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Market, we all need to take social distancing rules seriously. It is no longer acceptable to congregate in areas together; Market users must maintain the 1.5 metre social distancing rule wherever possible. A typical example of where this is not being exercised is by point of sale desks, with people found to be congregating in these areas. Any Market user deliberately not following social distancing rules will be excluded from the Market. Visitors to the Market Businesses and individuals should refrain from inviting non-essential visitors to the Market. Gate 1 personnel will be vetting all visitors to determine if the visit is warranted and if the meeting could be done via phone or video conference instead. If you have an essential visitor, you must ensure:
- They have not returned from overseas travel in the last 14 days
- They are not feeling unwell in any way
- The visitor is signed in at Gate 1 and fully escorted for the duration of their time at the Market.
These are unprecedented times, and the measures we are putting in place may be inconvenient and cause delays in the way you are used to doing business. We ask you to remember that restrictions are in place for everyone’s safety and to ensure the continued operation of the Market for the businesses and people who rely on the site for their livelihoods. Reducing the risk of COVID-19 at the Market As previously stated, the critical piece of advice for Market users is, if you are feeling unwell, you should stay at home and seek medical advice. Do not attend the Market for work, or to purchase flowers or produce, if you are feeling unwell in any way. The MMA is investigating a range of additional health and safety measures to help stop the spread of the virus; we will update you on any changes to Market procedure and operations as they occur. Questions A summary of previous COVID-19 updates and operational changes are kept on our website, click here to access. If you have any further questions, you can call the 24-hour security number, 0408 334 555. |
