Melbourne Market Coronavirus (COVID-19) response

THE MELBOURNE MARKET CONTINUES TO REMAIN OPEN WITH REGULAR TRADING HOURS.

This includes both the fruit and vegetable market and the flower market.

The Melbourne Market is an essential service and is vital in the supply chain of food. Along with the health and safety of Market users, our priority is to remain open to deliver fresh produce to Victorians.

Changes to Market operations

The following rules will apply as of 11.59 pm Wednesday 17 February:

• Face masks must be worn at all times, both in indoor and outdoor settings
• Market cafes can provide seated service, but density limits will apply
• Visitors can enter the market, including market tours; however, tours are limited to 5 people (excluding tour guide)
• Social distancing must be strictly adhered to, you must keep 1.5 metres from others wherever possible
• All persons must undergo temperature screening upon entry
• Gates 2 and 3, as well as the P1 pedestrian turnstile are closed, with all vehicle and foot traffic required to come through Gate 1 to undergo temperature screening prior to entry

Temperature Screening

Below is a summary of what you should expect, and what is required of each individual entering the Melbourne Market.

• As of Sunday 14 February, compulsory temperature screening upon entry will be re-introduced for all persons entering the Melbourne Market.
• Gates 2 and 3, as well as the P1 pedestrian turnstile will be closed, with all vehicle and foot traffic required to come through Gate 1 to undergo temperature screening prior to entry.
• Every person entering the market is required to undertake a non-invasive temperature screening, which involves a thermometer placed approximately 10cm from your forehead.
• If you are in a vehicle with multiple passengers, all passengers are required to undertake the temperature screening, not just the driver. Those on the passenger side of the vehicle will be required to exit the vehicle (regardless of the vehicle’s height) and present for screening on the driver’s side.
• Due to the increased height of some vehicles, drivers may have to dismount from the cabin to have their temperature screened, particularly those in articulated vehicles or semi-trailers. It is worth highlighting that the requirement to dismount from your vehicle may change from day-to-day due to the varying heights of the temperature screeners themselves. The thermometer can be extended to the open window for screening of the driver; however, if the screener is shorter and still cannot reach window height from a ground standing position, you will be required to disembark. The decision as to whether you need to disembark or remain in your cabin is at the discretion of the temperature screener.
• To avoid injury, and for the safety of both drivers and temperature screeners, under no circumstances should a driver or passenger lean out of a vehicle’s open door for temperature screening, if the thermometer cannot reach your forehead, you must disembark the cabin.
• You must be wearing your face mask when you present at the gate for temperature screening.
• Any person registering a temperature of 38C or above will be denied entry to the market.
• It is unacceptable to verbally abuse a temperature screener. Temperature screening is helping to ensure Melbourne Market tenants, users and businesses remain safe and operational.
• Anyone refusing or attempting to by-pass temperature screening will be removed from the market and penalties, including suspensions, will apply.

Exposure sites

If you have attended one of the known COVID exposure sites, as listed on the DHHS website, you must follow DHHS guidelines as they relate to isolation and testing. You must not attend the Melbourne Market until given clearance by the DHHS.

Commercial Freight

Where a commercial freight operator (truck driver) entering the Melbourne Market has resided in, visited, been in, or travelled through a red zone or a hot zone;

• The individual must only leave the vehicle cabin to access toilet and bathroom facilities, to sign in to the site at Gate 1, or in an emergency situation.
• Where the individual leaves the vehicle cabin, they must wear a fitted face mask at all times.

All Market users
Anyone who has been in a red zone, a hot zone or other NSW exposure sites on or since Friday 11 December 2020 and is already in Victoria (even if you are showing no symptoms), should get tested and quarantine for 14 days from the date they left the hot zone. You must not visit the Melbourne Market.

All previous statements and Market-wide communications from the Melbourne Market Authority relating to COVID-19 can be found in the news section of our website.

Penalties for non-compliance

To help ensure the safety and business continuity of the Melbourne Market, the MMA is imposing penalties for those deliberately not following social distancing rules, or for those not wearing face masks.
Under Operating Rule 12(b), A Person on Market Land must comply with the OH&S Plan and all relevant OH&S Requirements at all times; therefore any person found deliberately breaking social distancing rules, or, not wearing a face mask will be subject the following penalties:
1^st offence – Warning that is recorded in a Market user’s file
2^nd offence – 24-hour suspension from the Market*
3^rd offence – 48-hour suspension from the Market*
4^th offence – 72-hour suspension from the Market*
*Any suspension is effective from the next business day
Market Relations Officers will also issue penalties ‘after the fact’ for non-compliance with social distancing rules as part of their current review of CCTV footage.

To support the enforcement of these rules, you can read the Melbourne Market Social Distancing and Face Mask Policy.

Notifying the MMA of COVID-19 cases

To allow the MMA to take all appropriate actions to combat any spread of COVID-19, you must inform us if you have either:
– Been diagnosed with COVID-19
– Determined by the DHHS as a close contact of a confirmed COVID-19 case
Notifying the MMA in these instances allows us to implement measures such as sanitising cleans to relevant areas and notifying appropriate people and businesses. Please call the 24-hour security number on 0408 334 555, if either scenario applies to you or your business at any stage.

Communications from Market businesses

Some Market businesses have implemented their own measures to reduce the risk of COVID-19.

If you trade with any of these businesses, you should keep up to date with any changes or restrictions to their operations.

Letter from LaManna Premier Group

Letter from Kapiris Bros

Reducing the risk of COVID-19 at the Market

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 produce, if you are feeling unwell in any way.

The Federal and State Government continue to stress the importance of social distancing.

When at the Market you must:

• Think about how you can alter your daily tasks to minimise direct close contact with others around you
• You must not handshake, hug, kiss hello or similar
• Wash and sanitise hands regularly
• Keep a distance of at least 1.5 metres between yourself and fellow Market users where possible

The MMA has implemented several initiatives to help stop the spread of COVID-19

• Installing visual guides on the floor to assist with social distancing
• Installing additional hand sanitiser dispensers throughout the Market
• Increased general cleaning schedules around the Market
• Increasing common-area toilet cleaning schedules to every two hours
• Displaying signage reminding market users to wash their hands regularly and thoroughly

Business Support

This crisis is unprecedented, and the MMA understands that market tenants face extraordinary challenges in the immediate future.

Both the Federal and Victorian Government have already announced a range of measures to support small and medium businesses through this crisis.
The below links are provide details for seeking financial assistance and business support should you need it.
treasury.gov.au
business.gov.au – sole traders
business.gov.au – businesses

Questions

If you have any further questions, you can call the 24-hour security number, 0408 334 555.