THE first week of trading at the new Melbourne Market at Epping has gotten off to a flying start.
While an official media tour won't happen until Thursday, Good Fruit and Vegetables magazine was given an exclusive, early first look behind the scenes earlier this week.
The market officially opened on Monday and was declared an outstanding success by organisers.
The former market was opened in 1969 and today more than 3000 businesses employing 7500 workers utilised the facility.
According to Melbourne Market Authority, this rising demand pushed the former West Melbourne site to its limits in terms of physical space, standards of health and safety, transport logistics and environmental impact.
The new Epping site is bigger, safer, more accessible and better equipped, the MMA says.
Covering 70 hectares, the site offers up to 120,000 square meters of warehousing space, and a separate 60ha site adjacent to the Market provides room for potential future expansion into a fresh food precinct.
It also meets higher standards of health and safety by separating different kinds of vehicles, creating clear pedestrian zones and providing dedicated loading and unloading facilities.
MMA chairman Steve McArthur said it was great to see the market in action.
"There were a lot of happy faces today and a general sense of achievement from the Market Community," Mr McArthur said.
“The Market Community have worked hard in the lead up to this day, and it’s a real credit to the industry to see how it has all come together this morning."
