Life under the Brisbane Market Trust

Feature: Celebrating 20 years of ownership

Life under the Brisbane Market Trust

When the purpose-built Brisbane Markets were opened in 1964 under the management of the state government, the difference from the old Turbot and Roma Street market sites was dramatic. Buyers had adequate parking, trading times could be enforced, and the facilities were modern for the 60s. Over time, it became clear that wholesalers were eager for more input into the future direction of the site, but their needs were not necessarily a priority for the state government. According to current Brismark Chair and former Brisbane Market Trust Director, Gary Lower, the state government didn’t take account of wholesaler requirements. “There was no long-term plan in place to guide the management of the site. It just wasn’t a very good place to do business, it was getting run down and they were doing nothing at all to modernise it,” Mr Lower said. By the 1990s, an adversarial relationship between landlord and tenants had developed following many years of disagreements over a lack of focus on resourcing, security, maintenance, operating rules and a lack of collaboration. Under resourcing was considered a real issue, with only two staff employed to maintain the site who were unable to cope with the growing list of repairs needed to keep the Brisbane Markets in good working order. Wait times at the site entry points were not uncommon, as a shortage of security personnel would result in people sitting in cars at locked gates and waiting to enter or leave the site until a security patrol returned to open the gate. “It was just constant aggravation. The governing body at the time were virtually outsiders who took no account of what our requirements or needs were,” Mr Lower said. Without documented policies or procedures in place, a lack of transparency behind decisions made by the Brisbane Market Trust would inevitably benefit some businesses at the expense of others. This lack of regulation promoted a use and abuse mentality, with reports that some market operators would dump waste on site and leave it for other operators to deal with at their expense. Conversely, regulation was stifling businesses, with wholesalers facing barriers of red tape before they could secure the infrastructure required to grow their businesses, according to former BML and Brismark Chair, Tony Joseph AM. “Approval for a new building could take two or three years. Then it would cost you a fortune to pay for the upgrades yourself,” Mr Joseph said. Market Trust representatives at the time included Brisbane City Council and grower representatives who did not consider wholesaler input to be valid. “Peter Betros and I were on the Brisbane Market Trust in the 90s and it became impossible to discuss anything with them,” said Mr Lower. “Whenever an issue came up related to retailing or wholesaling, we would be asked to leave the room. We couldn’t even be part of the conversation.” It was clear that something had to be done to ensure the continued growth of Brisbane Markets and the success of businesses based on site.

The Fresh Centre as it looked when the site was purchased (top) and after the refurbishment of the building in 2011 (bottom).