Gerald Lynch
This story was originally published in February 2024 and Star Weekly has chosen to share it again for readers to enjoy.
Business owners within the Durham Road precinct have voiced collective concern about the potential construction of a Vietnamese museum in a nearby car park.
Anthony Hoang from Sunshine Primary Health said that to lose the car park would be a massive blow to both staff and patrons of surrounding businesses.
He said claims from Brimbank council that the car park is underutilised are “not true at all”.
“We use the car park daily. Sometimes it’s full and we struggle to find parking as is, if they take it away it is going to be really difficult for us and our clients,” he said.
“We have a lot of patrons who are disabled or elderly, so having the convenience of the car park is a real asset to us.
“Myself and other nearby businesses have invested a lot over the 12 years we have been in the space to get this side of Sunshine busier, and we feel that’s going to be taken away from us if the car park is taken away.”
Vietnamese Museum Australia expressed strong interest in purchasing the council owned space, after formally rescinding its contract with Maribyrnong council for a site in Footscray in October 2023.
The nationally significant museum currently has about $18 million of funding, including $10 million federal funding, $7 million state funding, and $1 million community funding, but is currently looking for a suitable site.
Brimbank mayor Cr Ranka Rasic said the area’s strong ties to Vietnamese culture make it an ideal place for the museum.
“The longstanding and vibrant Vietnamese community that makes up the Sunshine CBD of today has helped make it a regional destination to experience authentic Vietnamese food, street life and culture,“ she said.
Director of city futures Kevin Walsh said the council owned land could be used to build a museum, but recent community consultation would be considered.
“Council is undertaking the statutory procedures required by section 114 of the Local Government Act 2020 in respect of the proposal to sell a portion of the Durham Road Car Park in Sunshine for the purpose of constructing a nationally significant cultural museum,” he said.
“Community consultation was for a four week period over January and February this year. Community consultation has now closed and the next step is a Hearing of Submissions on March 4.
“Any decision to sell part of the Council land at the Durham Road Car Park would be subject to a decision at a future Council Meeting. At this stage it is anticipated that Council would consider this matter at the Council Meeting on March 19.”
Business owners from the Durham Road precinct are likely to be in attendance at this meeting, ready to fight for spots that they say are essential to their businesses.
