Little India limbo

By Nicole Williams
LITTLE India traders have been left in limbo as to what the future holds, years after Places Victoria (previously VicUrban) bought out the popular shopping strip.
The buildings on the Foster Street strip were purchased by Places in 2008 but traders who lease the properties say people are no longer shopping there and they don’t know when they will be asked to vacate.
In Parliament last week, Minister for Planning Matthew Guy admitted the future was uncertain for traders.
“Those properties have been acquired and no end date has been given as to when they will eventually be demolished and moved on,” he said.
Places Victoria’s revitalisation activities around the Little India area have seen the once bustling area become a ghost town – shoppers are staying away and traders say it is because parking is hard and road rules have changed.
Robinson Street has been permanently closed, Mason Street is currently closed for roadworks and both Lonsdale and Thomas streets have ‘no right turn’ into the precinct.
“As soon as VicUrban (now Places) started closing around us, we were affected,” Shahid Syed from Rosham Fashions said.
“Our clientele are from all over Melbourne, there are Indians living all over Victoria, but since it was sold, we have had no regular customers.”
Sajjad Ur Rehman, the owner of Bombay Fashions and Vice President of the Little India and Foster Street Traders Association, said it was now very easy for people to get lost.
“Our customers are not just from surrounding areas but from other suburbs – if they’re lost and can’t find us, they just leave.”
Last Thursday, Places Victoria announced a new marketing campaign designed to bring shoppers back to the precinct.
Advertisements will appear in Indian newspapers, a new website has been launched and wayfinding signs will be installed this month.
But while a lack of customers is one problem, it was clear confusion ruled when the Star spoke to traders this week, particularly about when Places Victoria planned to take over.
Mr Syed said he was one of the first Indian fashions stores to open on Foster Street about 17 years ago and was looking to renovate before Places Victoria purchased his building.
“I want to replace the carpet, but what’s the point?” he said.
“They first said they would take over in 2008, then 2010 and 2011 and now 2015 or 2016. What is my future?”
Mr Rehman said nothing was certain for the traders anymore.
“We aren’t certain, we don’t know what will happen and when,” he said.
“We’re unable to invest in our businesses. We started this business 15 or 16 years ago and now we don’t know where we stand.”
A spokesman for Mr Guy said the minister wanted to work with Little India traders.
“The minister wants to work with the broader community and specifically the traders to help facilitate a positive outcome,” he said.
“Dandenong has something that is unique that can continue in whatever form and it is going to take some determination on all sides to work through a solution that works.”
Places Victoria did not respond before the Star went to print.