By Melissa Meehan
DANDENONG’S Lonsdale Street is set to become one of Melbourne’s great boulevards.
Planning Minister Justin Madden visited Dandenong’s Cafe Villa on Tuesday to launch the works and turn the first sod at the busy street.
The street has historically divided the main central business district of Dandenong into two parts, but its revitalisation is set to bring the city together and draw people to the area.
Mr Madden said Lonsdale Street was one of the key infrastructure projects funded under the State Labor Government’s $290 million Revitalising Central Dandenong (RCD) initiative.
The $20 million Lonsdale Street transformation will create a pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined boulevard that will be a significantly more attractive and accessible place to shop, eat and meet.
Between now and the middle of next year VicUrban will transform the street by laying granite paving on footpaths and service lanes, planting 265 new, tall and attractive pin oak trees, installing prominent and brighter street lighting and creating six pedestrian crossings.
VicUrban’s chief executive, Pru Sanderson, said the agency was applying its experience in creating mixed-use centres that fostered liveability and economic growth to the task of transforming Lonsdale Street.
Dandenong mayor Pinar Yesil said the new Lonsdale Street would help to build a positive perception of central Dandenong.
“Along with drawing more people to the street’s shops, the new Lonsdale Street will strengthen perceptions of Dandenong as a unique and friendly destination for shopping, leisure and work.”
The works will start with changes to Lonsdale Street’s service lanes, to allow for the temporary redirection of traffic while the existing carriageways are resurfaced.
While there will be some temporary changes to normal routines, VicUrban says it is working to ensure that shoppers can access their favourite shops with minimal disruption during normal business hours. VicUrban has confirmed that construction will be halted between mid-December and mid-January to minimise disruption to Christmas trading
The Lonsdale Street works are expected to be completed by the middle of next year.
