凌晨4:39
Unknown
How big
could Chinatown be?中國城究竟可以有多大?
.....規劃唐人街的未來
南澳時報記者潘在恩 / SACW Reporter: Jo Phan
“地方議會的文化氛圍已經發生了轉變，但是地方議會沒有能力承擔所有的執行任務，我們需要鼓勵所有社區團結在一起，實現這一轉變。”
SA Chinese Weekly had the privilege in having an exclusive
interview with the Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Adelaide, Stephen Yarwood. He
explained to SA Chinese Weekly his plans to revamp and redevelop Chinatown,
Moonta St. This is an exciting time to be an Adelaidian, a resident in
Adelaide.
To commit to the plan to redevelop Chinatown, which is a big
project, it’s important to understand the local government needs time for
planning and there are a series of steps that need to be conducted to make this
overall big project of revamping Chinatown successful.
Stephen Yarwood explained that currently there are a series
of small projects that are on their way to give Chinatown a fresh face to be
ready for the summer of Adelaide and to be completed before Chinese New Year,
which signifies the Year of the Dragon.
The first project is to organise Moonta St to be fixed and
repaved. Moonta St’s pavers have been an issue for a long time, repairing now
and then the loose or damaged grout and pavers would be beneficial.
The second project is to improve both the decorative and
functioning lightings in Moonta Street. When walking down Moonta St at night it
is dark and quiet. – The decorative florescent lightings mounted on the canopy
on both sides of Moonta Street had not been working for years.
The third project that will need to be conducted in
Chinatown is to go into investigation the different areas that require a fresh
coat of paint, a touch up to some walls, buildings that are in need of a bit
more attention and care.
In April 2008, there was discussion of a strategic plan that
was considered for Adelaide that outlined the vision for 2008-2030. The concept
of a Chinatown Saturday Night Market was proposed but the strategic plan that
was presented in 2008 contained no vision or plans for Chinatown; in fact
Chinatown wasn’t even mentioned. However, over the past 3 years there have
developments in the Adelaide City Council.
“The culture has changed in the council but the council
can’t take all the implementation on its shoulders, we need to mobilise the
community together and make the change”, stated Stephen Yarwood. As Ghandi said
“You must be the change you wish to see in the world”
Stephen Yarwood wants to support, empower and motivate the
Chinese Community to develop markets in Chinatown. The Adelaide City Council
can provide funding to motivate the Chinese Community to expand Chinatown
because it sees the potential. However, he believes that the best markets that
are produced not only in Adelaide about around-the-world have been done
organically by the community, for the community.
You look at the successful Gillies St Markets happening in
Adelaide, they are one of the highlights for fashion and design goers in
Adelaide for each month and during the summer they increase it’s accessibility
to the Adelaide public by opening the market twice a month every Sunday because
of the better weather. Gillies St Markets are filled with stalls of vintage
clothes, jewellery, handbags, shoes, food and was developed by a private
operator and are supported as well as maintained by the Adelaide community.
“I don’t believe the Chinese Government produced all those
lovely markets around the world” Stephen Yarwood stated – It was the Chinese
Communities that had migrated over that developed the wonderful Chinatowns that
you see in world capitals such as: London, San Francisco, Vancouver, New York.
– All conducted by the community.
The incentive with these projects of repaving Moonta St,
increasing the lighting and giving areas a well-needed paint job and clean is
for these projects to be the stepping stones. To developing a vibrant Chinatown
by bringing the local Chinese businesses together. To develop a Chinatown
Saturday Night Market and expand the Chinese New Year Celebration as a ‘must’
on the Adelaide City Festival Calendar. No one in Adelaide should miss out!
Particularly since our Chinese New Year is celebrated for 15 days starting from
the first day of new year each year. This would be a great way to start the
year of the Dragon. However, like the best things in life, changes take time –
to do it right.
The Lord Mayor Stephen Yarwood is calling on the Asian
Community to express and embrace change. All together in order to make the
concept of a Chinatown Saturday Night Market effective, everyone must partake.
Future plans to expand Chinatown involves Stephen Yarwood is
looking into making a more aggressive move for more outdoor dining in the next
12 months, along with making liquor licensing for restaurants more flexible for
wine and beer for restaurant businesses. Imagine this concept, being able to
sit outdoors on Moonta St eating your favourite Asian dish, while drinking an
ice cold Asian beer or a fine wine.
Walking through the streets of Chinatown, there is so much
potential here and the Adelaide Lord Mayor can see it.
The Lord Mayor,
acknowledges the fact the council doesn’t have the cultural background, the
networks to make the Chinatown Saturday Night Street Markets effective. But the
community within Chinatown has had previous successful event; one in a
particular is the Chinatown Street Party, which is held for Chinese New Year.
He is reaching out to the Chinese Community to work together
on implementing these markets and making the Chinatown markets successful. He
is calling on us, the Asian community to participate – it’s an open call to
embrace change! – to be the change you wish to see. It’s about expanding
Chinatown and supporting local Chinese businesses and strengthening Adelaide’s
ties with China.
The Council has developed a strategic plan for changes in
the next 5-10 years. There is development to draft a policy, which will
hopefully appeal to private enterprises to forge relationships with businesses
where the Adelaide City Council and businesses can work together. “I respect
the Asian Communities and have had a long term view on the community culture
and the Adelaide city.” His long term plan for the future is to build a tram
that loops through the city and connects the entire city to Chinatown; his
vision is to see a tram through Gouger St, “I want to have the conversation on
how big Chinatown could go?” – Whether Chinatown could potentially expand
beyond just Moonta St, perhaps further down Wright St? This is all part of
making the city better so we can all benefit from it.
The Lord Mayor is anunique for a politician – in previous
years, we have seen many politicians come and go. Most of them, they have just
had plans that fit within their political cycle. Promise things to the
community but never follow through. However, Stephen Yarwood’s plans for
redeveloping the Adelaide CBD are not only in Chinatown but also in Victoria
Square, Rundle Mall and the river front of Torrens River. All of these visions
and plans for redevelopment can be built on in the future. He is laying down
the brickwork, a solid foundation so that his vision to revitalise the CBD with
his short, medium, long term goals are the building blocks, which future
leaders can build up from and expand.
There is one eye on today and the other is on the future.
Photo from left to right(圖片從左至右)：Stephen Yarwood /潘在恩Jo Phan / George Chin
Posted in: 
0 意見:
張貼留言