Vung Tau Inn

The Hon. P. CAICA (Colton) (15:33): It is with more than a touch of sadness that I inform the house that on 17 July the fine-dining establishment, Vung Tau Inn, will close its doors for the final time.

Vung Tau Inn has operated for over 34 years at its location on Port Road, just around the corner from Woodville Road, on the northern side, heading towards the city. It is a business that has been owned and operated by Steven Chuong, my constituent, as a family concern since its establishment many years ago. Vung Tau Inn has over the years built up a loyal and not insignificant clientele and why wouldn't it, with fine food served in fine surroundings by friendly and engaging staff, including Steven's beautiful wife, Lan. There is no doubt that Vung Tau Inn became a restaurant choice for many from around the area and beyond.

For many years, Vung Tau Inn has been adversely impacted upon by the numerous flooding events that have occurred far too frequently. As a result of these flooding events, in 2007 the City of Charles Sturt commissioned an independent report, which identified three areas throughout the precinct, in particular, that faced the greatest risk of flooding during significant rain events. In fact, the rain events did not need to be that significant for damage to occur. The area along and around Port Road where Vung Tau is situated was one of those identified.

This report was a significant factor in the commissioning of the Waterproofing the West project. Steven was informed that stage 1 of this project was meant to remove the stormwater out of the area and hence alleviate the flooding issues. Steven tells me that this has not been the case, and on two occasions since the completion of Waterproofing the West Stage One Vung Tau has been flooded, the most recent event happening on 27 December 2016.

On this occasion, water rose above the 80-centimetre floodgates that Steven installed in 2011, which resulted in the closure of Vung Tau Inn for many, many weeks. Of course, throughout this extended closure, Vung Tau Inn still incurred the normal recurrent costs and expenses and also required not insubstantial expenditure to remedy the considerable damage that the flooding had caused.

Steven claims, and I have some sympathy with this view, that throughout the 34 years he has been operating the Vung Tau Inn he has never been provided any real assistance or support from the council. Steven also advised me that he has made numerous approaches to council seeking assistance in managing the burden of flood damage but to no avail. I am also told that at every approach council simply suggested he relocate and claimed that they did not have the money to assist him. Steven tells me that he was and remains aggrieved by this, as council at this time offered assistance to the Commonwealth Bank in Findon for the same purposes.

I mentioned earlier the council commissioning an independent report on flooding issues in and around this precinct. I failed to mention that during 2007 Vung Tau Inn was flooded five times. From this time and up until and including 2010, and perhaps even after that, some businesses, sick of the frequency of flooding, decided to relocate from that area. Steven, based on information provided to him by council, I am told, decided to stay in the belief that Waterproofing the West Stage One would alleviate if not remedy the flooding situation. In fact, in this belief, he again invested in upgrading Vung Tau Inn.

This was also undertaken, again, I am told, on information provided by council to traders in the precinct that they consider investing to take advantage of the opportunities that will be created by the Woodville Road upgrade and the development of St Clair, which was meant to revitalise the precinct. Well, it appears now that Steven spent good money after bad. Compounding this problem now, and causing the closure of Vung Tau, is that Steven cannot find or access insurance for his building. No insurer will provide him the coverage necessary to remain open. Their reasoning: the frequency and severity of flooding issues over the many years.

I must add here that the owner of the property where Vung Tau Inn in is located is redeveloping the site. This is fact. However, I am told that in Steven's discussions with a representative of the LGA Mutual Liability Scheme he was informed by that representative, 'Why would it be that council would give you support when you're going to have to move at any rate?' The root cause of Vung Tau Inn's demise has been the flooding issues and the dramatic impact this has had on this person, his family and his business.

I will finish off where I started. It is with great sadness that Vung Tau Inn will be forced to close its doors on 17 July. It has is an even greater sadness for Steven and his family that it has ended this way. Steven and his family are decent, caring and compassionate people. Steven and Lan have been significant contributors to the Chinese Australian community and broader community. They have always given back to our community. They and Vung Tau required support when it counted. They deserved and warranted a better outcome.