Melbourne's Proposed "Little India" Precinct in Docklands: A $10 Million Vision Faces Community Pushback
Key Details
Melbourne Lord Mayor Nick Reece proposed a $10 million Little India precinct in Docklands during his 2024 election campaign. The City of Melbourne's draft budget has since allocated $1.2 million to move the project forward.
The precinct is expected to feature outdoor cooking and dining, recreation facilities, public art, and space for cultural events. However, no specific location in Docklands has been identified.
Opposition from Residents
"This money should be spent on fixing planning failures like wind tunnels, limited greenery, and inactive streets."
— Henry Macedo, Docklands resident
At a council meeting, resident Henry Macedo spoke against the proposal, arguing the funds should instead address existing urban design problems.
Another local, Grace Whaung, launched a petition on Change.org against the precinct, raising concerns that it would overshadow the diverse community and marginalize other cultural groups.
Diverging Views in the Community
The debate has generated competing petitions:
- Vasan Srinivasan, president of the Federation of Indian Associations in Victoria, started a supporting petition that gathered 192 signatures.
- Grace Whaung's opposition petition had 18 signatures at the time of reporting.
Online backlash took a racist turn, leading the council to disable comments on social media posts about the proposal.
Supporting Statements
"This is a golden opportunity. We can model it after Little India in Singapore or Dandenong."
— Vasan Srinivasan
Lord Mayor Nick Reece stated he is undeterred by opposition and expressed confidence the public will embrace the precinct, citing successful examples like Chinatown and Koreatown.
In a counter-proposal, Councillor Phillip Le Liu suggested using the $1.2 million to host an India vs. Pakistan cricket match at Marvel Stadium instead.
What's Next
The City of Melbourne plans further engagement with residents in the coming months.
The council also intends to lobby state and federal governments for additional funding to realize the full $10 million vision.