SOCIAL NETWORKING
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“Little India@Dandenong”
Jan 10, 2012.jpg)
“Little India” a multicultural icon in Melbourne is situated at Foster Street, Dandenong which has many Indian & South Asian businesses that have been there for many years.
In this a multicultural hub, people shop for pretty much everything from delicious Indian food to beautiful Bollywood dresses, and Bollywood movies.
To top up this hub there are Arabic grocery shops, African hairdressing shop, Cambodian coffee shop followed by an Australian Tattoo shop. Little India is adjacent to Dandenong Railway Station which places it an easily accessible place. It is one of its kind in Victoria and valuable to the community in two perspectives: Business and multicultural.
Business Perspective : This business hub is collection of 37 shops from various nationalities. If we consider employment of people, it would be 3 people per shop on average which gives employment of at least over a hundred people or more.
The business includes various models i.e. B2B, B2C, Small ethnic manufacturers overseas to wholesalers/retail shops, direct services to clients etc to create more employment and business opportunity outside this prescient.
Multicultural Perspective : Little India prescient started in 1980 with establishment of the first Indian grocery and video shop followed by Punjab Indian sweet shop in 1994 and Roshans Fashion shop which brought variety of fashion garments to fill ethnic community need. Today there are about 37 traders with lively, vibrant and colorful shops which has evolved over 30 years. It is a hot tourist area for all the Victorians and is organized by the Dandenong City Council.
Present Key challenges faced by Little India : Due to the redevelopment of the area by Vic Urban ‘Little India’ is now facing threats to its existence. Vic Urban started doing the construction work in the area and in streets surrounding it causing road blockages, limited access to the shops and limited parking spaces. All of this is impacting on Little India business, therefore making it hard for traders to survive due to the extreme financial crisis. Downturn of traders business is having a negative effect on their health and well-being. Some traders in the prescient have closed down their shops, while others are being harassed to leave the area, and no one knows what happens next.
Community and Little India traders initiatives to retain Little India : Since the construction work began, it became hard for customers/community to visit Little India due to road blockage. Some traders have had several meetings with Vic Urban office at Dandenong and Planning Minister Hon. Mathew Guy. The issue was again raised in the Parliament by the Shadow Planning Minister Hon. Brian Tee & Hon. Jude Perera MP. On 15th August 2011 a team of traders & community people met to Victorian Premier Hon. Ted Baillieu and a letter was given to make him aware of the ongoing problems. In addition to this, a petition signed by over 800 supporters was submitted in the parliament on 6/12/2011 followed by a protest of over a 100 supporters outside parliament.
Traders demand : The community activist met with some of traders at parliament during protest and came to know their demand as follows - Traders need immediate rent relief, as street closures for over two years has caused significant losses to the traders.
The RCD project is 15-20 years project so they need certainty as to until what year traders will be able to trade and without further disruption to the businesses.
Some traders were paid compensation for their businesses while the remaining ones are left in limbo. Traders want a fair go for everyone.
Once existing shops are demolished where will all the traders be relocated and how will the traders be collectively accommodated in the new development? What would be the future of this great iconic site in new development or it will vanish forever?
Traders need better promotion of Little India in media, better road signs and more car park spaces in the precinct.
Community Concern : The community doesn’t want to lose this unique multicultural icon and would prefer if it remained at the Foster Street in Dandenong with more value addition. With over 800 signatures on petition, the community has already sent their strong message to the Victorian government.
Note : It has been heard that after all pressures from traders & community, Vic Urban has given a letter to all traders on26/12/2011 for six months rent relief. This small initiative is welcome but not enough at all to save & protect this “UNIQUE ICON”.
Comments
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Kailan -
January 14, 2012, 7:35 pm
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Arif -
February 22, 2012, 7:30 am
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