MELBOURNE, 27 August 2024: The one thing common that traders in Dandenong’s ‘Little India’ say is that business is down. The festival season when sales jump is a couple of months away and issues that saw anxiety and agitation over the years have resurfaced. This time the issue is connected to ‘Little India’s’ proposed rent-hike and redevelopment’s phase one demolition being on the cards.
There are four phases of demolitions, enquiries reveal. The first phase (the portion on the right side when you enter Foster Street) might get the mandatory six months vacation notice in December 2024. Which means construction could start by June 2025 end or a bit later. This has unnerved those traders to be affected as they feel they are not sure what will be the fate without compensation for business loss and future allotment or rents in the new construction that comes up, whenever.
The other three phases traders, meanwhile, have got rent increase notices, depending on the size of the shops. One trader has received a 100% rent rise notice. These state government-owned shops traders feel when the new construction will start at phase one, business in ‘Little India’ will slump and the proposed new high rents will be a profit (if any) killer.
A Victorian government spokesperson from the Premier of Victoria’s office in an email (September 2, 2024) in response to South Asia Times query for reaction on issues raised by Little India traders demands said:
“Dandenong is booming and we’re ensuring more homes and jobs are created closer to public services, so local families can access everything they need, close to where they live.
”We’ll continue supporting traders and working with them on their options for remaining in the precinct, after providing them with significant support for a number of years, including rental relief and mentoring sessions.”
“The brand-new Little India precinct will offer modern facilities, enhanced services, and improved spaces for traders, creating more opportunities for their businesses to grow.”
So, the rent rise will be soon and the new construction will start later next year. The fate of ‘Little India’ looks dim, if not immediately. It is also volatile state politics between the two major parties that is likely to fuel this big issue. It needs to be mentioned that years back when the traders won a case against the state government (Coalition government), it was appealed and the traders lost and this sealed their fate. A later agitation to support Little India traders backed by Labor (Daniel Andrews as Leader of opposition) hit the headlines. Then the Coalition was in power and now Labor is in power. How to situation plays up now can be anybody’s guess.
This week former Liberal government Planning Minister, Matthew Guy MP, raised the issue of rent increase in Parliament, saying the previous Labor Daniel Andrews government had promised not to increase rents in Little India.
A petition today readout by a group of traders in Little India addressed to the Premier Jacinta Allan, by ‘A spokesperson for the Little India Traders’/The Traders of Little India Precinct and the Indian Community of Melbourne ‘ asks/demands:
“Is increased rent a planned deterrent for the traders?, When will the traders need to vacate and relocate?, Who will compensate them for business losses during the relocation period? Who will cover the costs of relocation? If the temporary location leads to a loss of customers or staff difficulties, will the Victorian Government provide compensation? Will the Little India traders be able to pay the same rental rates at the new premises as they do currently? What will the rent be once the construction of the Little India Precinct is completed? Will the Government subsidise 50% of the rent for a couple of years before the full rent comes into effect? And, Will the Victorian Government cover the costs of relocation again in the future?”
Little India traders have two associations. A few days back Liberal leader Matthew Guy visited the area and met traders and today made a members statement on the issue in the Victorian Parliament. Interestingly, many traders said they do not want to make the issue and Labor-Liberal political issue. While others said the rent-hike issue was the urgent and immediate issue.
