City in the zone

By Shaun Inguanzo
DEVELOPERS will now have increased flexibility when designing buildings for central Dandenong after Planning Minister Rob Hulls gave the green light to a planning scheme amendment.
Amendment C55 was approved on 26 October, giving central Dandenong an entirely new zone – the Comprehensive Development Zone – to help with the revitalisation of central Dandenong.
City of Greater Dandenong development director Mal Baker said the new zoning would allow for a mixture of residential, business and commercial uses to coexist in the city’s CBD.
“C55 provides a certainty for the city’s open spaces, residential developments, new business activities and recreational facilities,” he said.
“It is a vision to make sure they work to complement each other and bolster residents’ quality of life.”
Central Dandenong previously had a mixture of land use zonings, including Business One and Two.
The old zones restricted the types of development that could occur to support current and future businesses in the central city area, Mr Baker said.
The Residential Two zone on the periphery of the central Dandenong declared area will remain.
Mr Baker said the council’s planning and design department was undertaking a residential character study to make recommendations on future development parameters for that zone.
City of Greater Dandenong planning and design manager Jody Bosman said the amendment had survived “a number of crucial tests” before approval.