Museum creates parking concerns

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While business owners within the Durham Road precinct have welcomed the green-light announcement for a country-first Vietnamese museum in Sunshine, they are seeking clarity on the build’s impact on parking availability.

The planning permit for the cultural space, proposed to be built on the Durham Road car park, was recently approved by the state government.

For surrounding businesses, this could lead to a significant reduction in parking spots for staff and customers alike.

Anthony Hoang from Sunshine Primary Health said although the announcement was worth celebrating, questions around parking remained.

“I feel like the museum would look amazing wherever you put it — we’re all very happy to be getting one,” he said.

“The problem is parking and that’s something that will affect the visitors to the museum as well.

“We hope the government will provide some assistance to us with this because we need a viable solution.”

Star Weekly understands that the carpark at Durham Road has been subdivided, with part of it expected to accommodate the museum.

According to Mr Hoang, the remaining plot could be used to address the parking issue.

“I believe a high-rise carpark is the solution,” he said.

“A multi-storey space could be constructed within the unused part of the carpark and that would really help us.”

Vietnamese Museum Australia president Tammy Nguyen said the committee would work with the community, government and Brimbank council to ensure all stakeholders were satisfied.

“We’re really looking forward to being a part of the Brimbank landscape and we don’t want to upset any of our neighbours so we hope that all concerns can be resolved,” she said.

“It is my understanding that there is work being done on a parking management plan — I think the council and the government are trying really hard to mitigate any negative impacts.”

A state government spokesperson said the museum’s planning permit includes conditions to develop a traffic and parking management plan approved by the state government and council.