Indian communities competing to host new Melbourne precinct say process unfair

The creation of an Indian precinct where South Asian culture can be showcased and celebrated is sowing seeds of disharmony in Australia.

Indian dancer Manaswani performs with the Raminder Khurana group during Diwali celebrations at Federation Square in Melbourne, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) NO ARCHIVING

Indian dancer Manaswani performs with the Raminder Khurana group during Diwali celebrations at Federation Square in Melbourne, Saturday, Oct. 25, 2014. (AAP Image/Tracey Nearmy) Source: AAP

Indian communities competing to host an Indian precinct in Melbourne are disputing the fairness of the selection process, including how potential locations are being shortlisted.

Victoria is home to Australia's largest Indian population and while there are Indian communities scattered round Melbourne, there is currently no official Indian cultural precinct.
Now the state government is offering $500,000 to establish one, in line with Melbourne's Chinese, Vietnamese, Italian and Greek communities’ official precincts.

They are places to meet, hold festivals and do business, as well as operate as significant tourist attractions.

The question of where an Indian precinct should be located is proving divisive, with campaigners for Dandenong saying it is the obvious choice.

Branded Little India since 2010, the Melbourne suburb has an established strip of shops featuring goods from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Fiji.

It is also home to Museum India, which opened last year with the support of the Victorian Government.

But the western suburb of Wyndham also wants to take home the honours.

It recently hosted India Day celebrations and has a youthful Indian community that is growing fast.

The CBD, the city of Casey and the suburb Glen Waverley have also expressed interest in hosting the precinct.

An eight member advisory panel has been appointed by the Victorian Government to shortlist three locations, and has already held public meetings to gauge opinion and encourage submissions.

A campaigner for Wyndham, Sudhir Juneja, does not think the area has a fair shot.

"It's already being said in various circles that Dandenong has already got it," he said.

"If Dandenong has already got it then why are we doing all this exercise?"

A councillor at Wyndham City Council, Gautam Gupta, has questioned the impartiality of the advisory panel because some of its members have strong connections to Dandenong.
"It's already being said in various circles that Dandenong has already got it."
"We are being locked out of the process essentially and it is unacceptable," he said.

Victoria's Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Robin Scott, insists the process will be fair.

He said the advisory panel was made up of people with experience and technical knowledge.

"I'm going as Minister to be committed to a good process, which gives a fair outcome to all the community," he said.

The president of the Confederation of Indian Associations of Australia, Vasan Srinivasan, has spent years helping develop Little India in Dandenong.

He does not think it’s possible to establish a precinct elsewhere with the limited funds on offer.

"For half a million dollars, where can you create a precinct like this (Dandenong)?"

The panel is scheduled to produce its shortlist this month, with feasibility studies to follow.

The successful bidder is set to be announced in October.


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3 min read

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By Phillippa Carisbrooke

Source: SBS


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