Future unveiled

By Shaun Inguanzo
DANDENONG, welcome to your $290 million future.
The State Government today (Thursday) unveiled detailed plans for central Dandenong’s massive $290 million revitalisation.
A nine-week public consultation period has also opened for residents and interested parties to comment on the plans before they are finalised in September this year.
Star can reveal that central Dandenong faces a plethora of drastic changes that aim to make the city greener, cleaner and more pedestrian friendly.
These include:
A PROPOSED business and management campus of Chisholm Institute of TAFE at the former Grenda Transit Management site on Foster Street.
A NEW retail plaza opposite Dandenong Train Station, incorporating multicultural aspects found already in Foster Street. It is also planned to attract new businesses, and offer live entertainment.
A COMBINED City of Greater Dandenong council office on the corner of Walker and Lonsdale Streets, replacing existing offices in Springvale Road, Springvale, and Clow Street, Dandenong.
A CIVIC square near the new council building.
ELABORATE landscaping to remove the dingy and dirty appearance of central Dandenong.
A 20,000 square metre government office block tipped to be located at Walker and Mason Streets, and incorporating not only Dandenong’s, but neighbouring cities’ government agencies for a one-stop-shop effect.
A PLAN to run the City Walk pedestrian route from Dandenong Train Station through the new retail plaza, then to the civic square, across Lonsdale Street and towards the Drum Theatre, ending at Dandenong Plaza Shopping Centre.
LONSDALE Street to be made more pedestrian-friendly. VicUrban anticipates traffic will be reduced when EastLink opens next year. The draft plan aims to make Lonsdale Street easier to cross from one side to the other, to landscape it with a ‘green’ theme. Works to commence late 2008 or early 2009.
WORKS on George Street Bridge to start by the end of this year.
THE number of bus stops will be reduced in Thomas Street, and relocated to Lonsdale Street.
Major Projects Minister Theo Theophanous launched the draft document at the Drum Theatre and said the plan was a ‘blueprint’ for Dandenong’s future.
The 15 to 20-year ‘vision’ is believed to attract $1 billion of private investment to the city, grow the number of jobs by 5000 and homes by 3000. The key players in the project are VicUrban, which has compiled the plan, the State Government, which is funding it, and the City of Greater Dandenong.
“The Bracks Government will embark on the biggest revitalisation of a suburb since the Docklands development,” Mr Theophanous said.
Dandenong MP John Pandazopoulos said Dandenong deserved the revitalisation.
He said the plan would attract more white-collar employment to the city, balancing out the city’s heavy industrial and manufacturing focus.
The proposed TAFE campus would allow thousands of students to indulge in shopping, dining and entertainment in central Dandenong, he said. He also threw his support behind City Walk, saying it would help people arriving by train to more easily find the city centre.
The deadline for public comment on the draft plan is 29 June. To learn more about the draft plan or send feedback call VicUrban on 131 852, email revitalisingcentraldandenong@vicurban.vic.gov.au, or visit the City of Greater Dandenong office in Clow Street, Dandenong.