Announcement by the Vietnamese Museum Australia Ltd
Tuesday 24th October 2023
The Board of Directors would like to share some important developments regarding the Vietnamese Museum Australia (VMA).
After a 3-year period of collaboration with the Maribyrnong City Council, we regret to announce that our contract of sale of land with the Council has come to an end. This decision was reached after an unfeasible condition on our planning permit required the VMA come to an agreement with our adjacent neighbour, and despite our numerous and significant attempts over an extended period, we were unable to come to a resolution.
In light of these circumstances, the VMA Board made a decision to rescind our current contract and bring it to a close. While this was a difficult decision, we want to reassure our community that we remain dedicated to our mission and purpose and are actively exploring alternative avenues to fulfill our objectives.
As a result of the contract termination, the VMA will also withdraw our current application in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT). This decision is a part of our commitment to adapt and refocus our efforts to achieve our mission and purpose.
The VMA, committed to its mission and purpose to establish and operate a cultural museum to enhance the understanding and appreciation of the Vietnamese diaspora in Australia, their flight to freedom and their contributions to Australia, exhaustively explored all financially viable options to address these issues. Regrettably, despite our best efforts, a satisfactory resolution remained elusive.
We wish to emphasise that we are currently engaged in active discussions with other Local Governments to identify new opportunities and locations that align with our mission, purpose, and values.
We are pleased to share that we continue to hold the support of all government stakeholders at both State and Federal levels. We are collaboratively engaged with the Department of Transport and Planning to determine the next steps for the VMA, as we understand the government recognises the VMA’s vital role in advancing many Multicultural objectives within the Victoria planning system.
In due course, we will hold a public meeting to provide further updates to the community, and will issue a notification with details once they are confirmed.
The VMA is more determined than ever to see this project through its successful completion. The 50th year anniversary of Vietnamese settlement in Australia holds great significance for all of us, and we look forward to celebrating with the construction of the museum and community centre with the entire community.
We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the community, and all our donors and supporters who have stood by us throughout this journey. Your unwavering support has been the bedrock of our organisation, and we look forward to sharing more positive updates with you in the near future.
Thank you for your continued support and understanding.
Vietnamese Museum Australia
