A 20-year journey to build Footscray’s SaiGon Welcome Arch is nearing an end with the archway’s final design completed.
A pair of giant cranes at the southern end of Leeds Street will welcome visitors to Footscray’s Little Saigon, with details of the $980,000 project finalised in a report to last night’s council meeting.
The state government is providing $420,000 towards construction, Maribyrnong council will spend $360,000 and the remaining $200,000 has been raised by the Vietnamese-Australian community. The archway will be built as part of the $12.5 million Little Saigon precinct redevelopment that will include a new building with ground-floor retail and multi-level parking, a pocket park, street trees and a Byron Street upgrade.
The design was developed by members of the Footscray Asian Business Association, Vietnamese Community Australia Victorian Chapter, Footscray Traders Association and Footscray Community Arts Centre.
The design and archway name attracted overwhelming public support during consultations in May and June.
The proposed SaiGon Welcome Arch name, celebrating the contribution the Vietnamese community has made in Footscray, was supported by 121 of 126 respondents.
Of 75 public submissions on the design, 74 were positive.
“Whilst the feedback received was overwhelmingly positive, minor revisions have been made to the concept design in response to the feedback,” the council report stated.
The final steps will include collation of stories and images for engraving on the arch and a tendering process for construction, which is due to begin late this year.
