By CASEY NEILL
A NEW group with a passion for Dandenong has attracted 30 members within two days since its inception.
The Dandenong Community Association (DCA) is open to residents who want a suburb that people want to live in and stay in.
Silvia Mastrogiovanni and Carmel Puglisi formed the “voice for a liveable suburb” following an overwhelming turnout at the Red Gum Ward community meeting on 14 January.
Last week, the Journal reported that 40-plus degree conditions didn’t deter 90 people from attending the event at Dandenong Library.
“A lot of people in Dandenong are really passionate about this town,” Ms Mastrogiovanni said.
“We really do want a place where people want to stay living in.
“We will be a voice for planning issues, facilities and services, public open space and other issues affecting Dandenong.”
At the meeting, residents slammed council inaction on restricting multi-storey unit developments on what were single residential blocks, a lack of business start-ups, inadequate parking in central Dandenong and poor accessibility to shops, particularly on Lonsdale Street.
Richard Kenny, a Dandenong resident and ratepayer of nearly 40 years, said the overall tone was one of “widespread community dissatisfaction with our council”.
“There is a community feeling that Dandenong is to be treated as a lower class, low-rent suburb,” he said.
“There seems to be an unwillingness to accept the future social impacts of multi storey, multi-unit developments.
DCA wants a Dandenong that is a community where people feel they belong, that is designed for families to live in and is keen for changes that benefit its residents and value its heritage.
It wants Dandenong to have appropriate development, high-quality community facilities and plentiful open space.
“Within the first two days of the association being formed, 30 residents have joined,” Ms Mastrogiovanni said.
“DCA is open to all Dandenong residents who share these goals.”
To join the association, email your name, address and contact number to dca3175@yahoo.com.au or call 0449 518 351.
DCA will keep residents updated on issues at www.facebook.com/dca3175.
