Plea for more plan information

By Shaun Inguanzo
MORE information, please. That’s the message from retailers and residents after VicUrban last week released a draft plan outlining significant changes to central Dandenong to occur over the next 15 to 20 years.
Star first revealed details of the Draft Urban Master Plan for the Revitalising Central Dandenong project last week before the 24-page document became public.
Key projects include a new entertainment and retail precinct outside Dandenong railway station, a new council office building proposed for the corner of Lonsdale and Walker Streets, a 20,000 square metre government office block, a landscaped path leading commuters from the station to central Dandenong, called City Walk, and a more pedestrian-friendly Lonsdale Street.
VicUrban has urged the community to comment on the plan by no later than 29 June.
Initial responses from the Dandenong Residents’ and Ratepayers Association (DRRA) and Concerned Retailers and Traders (CRT) groups have been lukewarm, with both groups this week calling for more details about the $290 million project.
DRRA president Alan Hood said the draft plan contained “as much detail as a Year 12 student’s school project” and created more questions than it answered.
VicUrban has maintained that the opening of the EastLink tollway will reduce the amount of through-traffic in Lonsdale Street.
But Mr Hood said the DRRA was concerned plans to slow traffic in Lonsdale Street would create unwanted congestion for motorists.
“EastLink runs in a different direction to Princes Highway and will not ease Lonsdale Street congestion,” he said.
Mr Hood said the plan failed to provide unique public transport solutions.
“Since Lonsdale Street forms the biggest barrier in the CBD, we would have expected the Bracks government to come up with an innovative solution such as a partly sunken transport tunnel making use of the hill contour, opening up the centre of the CBD,” he said.
“Instead, the plan is to slow down the already frustrated motorists trying to get into town.
“The government may as well have put up a sign saying ‘Dandenong – Keep Out’.”
CRT chairman Peter Hofmann, who owns Manely Hair in Foster Street, said the draft master plan was too similar to the Shared Vision document released in April 2006. Mr Hofmann said Foster Street traders still were still seeking a clear indication of where they would relocate within central Dandenong.
“These are the sort of things we will be asking for more detail on,” he said.
“The giggle for us all is that we (the CRT members) are all for the revitalisation. We have absolutely no negative thoughts whatsoever but we can’t believe that this project is coming across as still reasonably ad hoc.”
Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association chairman Roy Aspinall said he had not yet seen the draft plan but from what he had heard, Dandenong’s retail future would be secure – providing VicUrban “does the right thing” by traders. To comment on the Draft Urban Master Plan call VicUrban on 131 852, or visit www.revitalisingcentraldandenong.com.au.