Queen Victoria Market Southern Development Project, Melbourne, Victoria
(EPBC 2024/09860)

Publication of Information for Assessment of Public Environment Report under National Heritage places (Sections 15B and 15C) of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act).

Lendlease (Queen Victoria Markets) Head Developer Pty Limited, acting on behalf of partners Melbourne City Council and The Trust Company (Australia) Limited as trustee of the Scape QVM Property Trust, is proposing to undertake work within the National heritage-listed Queen Victoria Market and on land immediately adjoining the place, known as the Queen Victoria Market Southern Development Project. The proposed action has potential to have an impact on the following matters of national environmental significance that are protected under Part 3 of the EPBC Act:

National Heritage Places
- Section 15B: Requirement for approval of activities with a significant impact on a National Heritage place
- Section 15C: Offences relating to National Heritage places

The Department of Climate Change, Environment, Ecology and Water (DCCEEW) who administers the EPBC Act, advised Lendlease the proposed Queen Victoria Market Southern Development Project is considered a ‘controlled action’ under the EPBC Act and requires assessment via a Public Environment Report (PER) process. The identification number for the action allocated by DCCEEW is EPBC 2024/09860.

Pursuant to Section 98(1)(c) of the EPBC Act, the draft PER was available for public viewing and public comment for a period of 20 business days from Friday 22 November 2024 to Friday 20 December 2024 inclusive. Further, under Section 99(4) of the EPBC Act, Lendlease published the final PER documentation for information only for a period of 20 business days from Monday 24 February 2025 to Tuesday 25 March 2025 inclusive.

The timeline below outlines the key steps required in the PER process. We will keep the community informed as this process progresses via this website.

  • Proposal Referred

    23 May 2024


    Lendlease voluntarily referred the proposed Queen Victoria Market Southern Development Project to DCCEEW as a further step to receiving Heritage Victoria approval.

     

  • Controlled Action

    21 June 2024


    The DCCEEW determined the Project is a ‘controlled action’ under the EPBC Act and assessment via a PER process is required. Draft Guidelines for the preparation of the PER supplied to Lendlease.

  • Final Guidelines PER Released

    24 September 2024


    Final PER Guidelines issued by DCCEEW to Lendlease. Lendlease to draft the PER response to address the PER Guidelines.

     

  • Draft PER Public Viewing

    22 November to
    20 December 2024


    DCCEEW instructed Lendlease to make the approved draft PER available for public viewing and public comment for a period of 20 business days.

     

  • Final PER Submission

    February 2025


    Lendlease has reviewed and incorporated public comment into the final PER with lodgement to DCCEEW for assessment. Acceptance of the final PER from DCCEEW received. 

  • Minister's Determination

    14 August 2025


    We welcome the Department’s final decision and look forward to working with the City of Melbourne and Scape to bring forward this exciting project. 

  • Annual Compliance Reports

    August 2026


    Inline with the EPBC Act Annual Compliance Report period, the latest Annual Compliance Report is available on this website for public viewing.

EPBC Act Annual Compliance Reports

Publication of Annual Compliance Reports under Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) referral 2024/09860 - Approved Action conditions. Annual Compliance Reports are consistent with the Annual Compliance Report Guidelines, Commonwealth of Australia 2023.