Street set for muchneeded revamp

Shaun Inguanzo
A STRUGGLING Noble Park shopping strip will be revamped as part of a City of Greater Dandenong plan to improve Noble Park.
Star first reported in November that traders in Ian Street, a once bustling shopping strip, were asking the council for a series of improvements to enhance trade.
Suggestions included street lighting, signage along Heatherton Road notifying drivers the shopping strip existed, and rerouting pedestrian traffic from the Noble Park train station to walk through the strip.
Those dreams, and other enhancements, could be realised after the City of Greater Dandenong council this week voted to commence its Noble Park Activity Centre Structure Plan. Under Melbourne 2030 guidelines, Noble Park was identified as an activity centre, and in compliance with the document council has now mapped out basic concerns and areas for improvement to Noble Park’s shopping, transport and recreational places.
While details are scarce, the report includes comments from a Noble Park student who described Ian Street as “run down and grimy” and “in need of an urgent makeover”.
The move has pleased La Fina restaurant owner Mark Gimzewski, who this week said traders had heard lots of talk about improving Ian Street, but for many years had waited for council to take action.
“I am excited if it is something definite, not just talk like in previous years, because some traders in Ian Street over the past 20 years have heard a lot of talk …but nothing really has been done,” he said.
The report states that among the ‘top three business actions’ in Noble Park is improving Ian Street and linking it to nearby Douglas Street.
It also highlights Ian Street as “appropriate for mediumdensity housing”, confirming reports by City of Greater Dandenong strategic planning department consultant Michelle Lee who in November said upperstorey housing on current shop fronts would encourage residents to shop in Ian Street.
Noble Park Ward councillor Pinar Yesilagac and Keysborough Ward councillor Roz Blades would be part of a working group to help enhance the township and Ian Street.
Priority improvements in Noble Park are expected to take up to two years to complete, with lower priority improvements taking between five and 10 years.
But Mr Gimzewski isn’t holding his breath over Ian Street’s revamp.
“If we see something more concrete it would be great,” he said. “There has been a lot of talk and everyone comes in and says we will do this and that, but nothing ever eventuates.”
The next stage of the structure plan will include more thorough community consultation.