Proposal for non-Asian venue ‘the start of the end for Chinatown’
Restaurants in Melbourne’s Chinatown have joined forces to oppose a non-Asian restaurant application on the basis it will spoil the atmosphere of the historic precinct.
Restaurants including Flower Drum, Shark Fin House and Westlake are among 18 objectors to plans for a 200-seat open-air venue on the corner of Lt Bourke St and Corrs Lane.
Captain Obvious has put in a planning application for the site which is currently a carpark.
However, those objecting claim there are plans afoot to turn the venue into a bar that will lead to noise and alcohol problems.
“It will have more than 200 guests and potential problems with drunkenness and noise pollution,” Shark Fin House restaurant co-owner Martin Chan told the Herald Sun.
“Each restaurant there now is enclosed - we are peaceful - I don’t see how it could blend into our current environment, it could be ruined.”
Other objectors include property investor David Yu, Tea House in Cohen Place, Crystal Jade restaurant in Lt Bourke St, Hotel Grand Chancellor in Lonsdale St and Mantra hotel in Russell St.
Maz Salt, from Captain Obvious, said he wasn’t sure what they were objecting about.
“I’ve reached out to the objectors to discuss any issues but I’ve had no response from any of them,” he said.
City of Melbourne councillors are due to consider the issue at a meeting tonight.
Sheridan Randall, 19th March 2019
