Gaetano Greco, a well-known independent Darebin councillor who has been at the forefront of the local campaign to keep the Preston market as it is, announced that he will run for state parliament. Greco’s election campaign has one main focus – he wants the Victorian government to compulsorily acquire and refurbish the stalls, which he describes as Preston’s “beating heart”.
Joint owners Salta Properties and Medich Corporation want to revitalise the 50-year-old market through profit they would make by allowing room for more apartments than the government currently supports. The well-organised “Save the Preston Market Action Group” say they are not against the addition of housing, but not for private benefit, and want the land compulsorily acquired.
Gaetano states, I have lived in Darebin all my adult life serving the community with distinction as an independent mayor of Darebin in 2014 and on Council for nearly 14 years.
One of the main reasons I’m standing in this election is to save the Preston Market which is the beating heart and soul of Preston and should be in public hands like the Victoria Market. In tackling climate change I am inspired by a sentiment attributed to First Nations people to ‘touch the Earth lightly’. We live in anxious times with much social and environmental repairing to be done in fairness to current and future generations. It is hard but not impossible for as a society we have never been more prosperous, more productive or more technologically advanced.
However, not everyone has benefited from that progress because of mounting structural inequality, but through our combined capability a better community is achievable. In my experience you earn trust and support by actively and honestly fighting for community needs, which is what I currently do as an Independent Councillor. I will stand alongside our community because we deserve better and because only together, we can improve Preston and Reservoir. Parts of story sourced from the Age.
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