$9.2m civic centre plan

By Nicole Williams
A NEW civic building has been highlighted as the biggest project for the 2011-’12 City of Greater Dandenong council budget.
Greater Dandenong CEO John Bennie foreshadowed a number of key projects for the budget at the City of Greater Dandenong Race Day on Sunday although it will not be officially approved until the council meeting on Monday night.
The new civic building was the most significant project and is expected to cost $9.2 million.
The building, on the corner of Walker and Lonsdale streets, and opposite the Drum Theatre, will bring together the Springvale and Dandenong offices.
It will include new council offices, a civic plaza, civic spaces and a new library.
“This is a significant project,” Mr Bennie said.
“It will bring together, once and for all, all the staff.”
He also promised the council would retain a presence on the Springvale site, possibly with a new library and gardens, if the move goes ahead.
The Town Hall will also remain.
The budget will also include an ‘ambitious’ $69 million committed to capital infrastructure projects and Mr Bennie said the council would continue to focus on capital infrastructure and local projects.
“We endeavour to never take our eye off the ball with capital infrastructure,” he said.
“We remain strongly focused on some of the local projects.”
Mr Bennie said funding would be allocated for 145 projects, ranging from the $9.2 million new civic building to $25,000 for local community groups.
“Council will be just as focused on the $25,000 jobs as the multi-million dollar jobs.”
The budget includes funding for 45 capital projects, 20 open space projects, 28 roads projects and seven stormwater projects.
A project to install CCTV at Noble Park station was also highlighted.