By Cam Lucadou-Wells
More festivals, more visitors from across Melbourne, a possible night market and better parking – these are the planks of Dandenong Market’s upcoming plans.
The market has unveiled its next five-year strategic plan to build on its swelling success, on the back of visitor figures topping 5.4 million a year.
General manager Jennifer Hibbs said the core of the plan was retaining the market’s “family, community vibe” and its alluring cultural diversity.
“It’s that delicate balance of getting more people through the door and not changing the character of the market.
“Over the next five years, we want to position Dandenong Market as an authentic food and retail hub in the South-East.
“There’s no one quite like us.”
Its recent success stories include the introduction of Sunday trading, and regular vibrant events such as the Full Moon, Halloween and Diwali festivals.
The market – which has just organised its inaugural Curry Festival – plans to further bolster its events calendar, Ms Hibbs said.
It will soon launch Dandenong’s first Makers Festival in partnership with Southern Migrant and Refugee Centre.
The festival’s stalls will feature traditional works from locals from all over the world.
It may be a stepping stone for the ‘makers’ to establish long-term stalls at the market, Ms Hibbs said.
There are also plans to strongly publicise the stories and wisdom of its diverse 200-plus traders, and emphasise the community roots of the 152-year-old market.
“It’s the personal contact that you get – you can’t replicate that on-line.”
Under its strategic plan, the market will advocate to its sole shareholder Greater Dandenong Council to improve parking, traffic flow and pedestrian access in its surrounds.
Other possible upgrades include more seating, play areas, entertainers and parents rooms.
The market will also investigate opening at evenings, including a possible night market, to cater for more local shoppers.
