CHINATOWN IN GOLD COAST?

The quiet comeback of Asian restaurants and businesses in Surfers Paradise has prompted fresh calls for the Gold Coast to have its own Chinatown.

Business and community leaders have been mulling over the concept for 20 years but the waning of the Asian tourism market at the end of the '90s slowed momentum. The idea is back on the boil with the market on the rise and more than 14 Asian specialty stores operating in Beach Road, Hanlan Street, Trickett Street and Laycock Street. Surfers Paradise property giant and former city councillor Max Christmas said the time was ripe for the Gold Coast to join other major cities and designate a Chinatown precinct, ideally around the streets immediately south of Cavill Avenue. Mr Christmas said a further idea would be to convert the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre into an 'Asian marketplace' in the style of Paddy's Markets in downtown Sydney. "If we do that, we could turn the whole area there into an entertainment precinct," he said. Area councillor Susie Douglas said the concepts had merit but would have to be backed by the traders. "We can't make a Chinatown but we could encourage people to set up their businesses in a certain area if the idea was supported by traders," she said.

A trader who refused to be named said he feared a dedicated Chinatown precinct would bring in unwanted crime elements and increase underworld connections.

Dominic Chan, general manager of the Golden Fortune Chinese Seafood Restaurant in Hanlan Street, said he supported the surge in Asian businesses in the precinct but was against a dedicated Chinatown. "There are many Chinese shops now but no to Chinatown -- that brings too many competitors for our business," he said. -reported by Leah Fineran (goldcoast.com.au) ~ Aug 30,2009