By CASEY NEILL
A NEW seven-storey building will soon boost retail in central Dandenong – and a regional healthcare centre might not be far behind.
Places Victoria this week signed an agreement with EPC Pacific for the Revitalising Central Dandenong project between Walker Street and Halpin Way.
It’s expected to become home to more than 850 Australian Taxation Office (ATO) staff when it’s complete in late 2015.
Places Victoria is also in discussion about a regional private healthcare facility and other developments.
The State Government and City of Greater Dandenong have poured $290 million into the Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative.
Mayor Angela Long said this latest announcement brought private sector investment to $461 million since 2006.
She said the construction phase, starting early next year, would create jobs, provide a major boost to suppliers and retailers and help create “a fresh new future for central Dandenong as the capital city of the south east”.
The new building is expected to deliver 12,600 square metres of commercial office space and is targeting a five star energy rating.
There’ll be 1500 square metres of retail space and office accommodation at street-level overlooking the pedestrian-friendly Halpin Way – one of the key infrastructure projects Places Victoria delivered to provide easier access between Dandenong Railway Station and Lonsdale Street.
Committee for Dandenong chairman Gary Castricum said the building would bring in new workers who’d support other Dandenong businesses.
“It will be great to have people walking along Halpin Way and heading up to the ATO office,” he said.
“They’ll be looking for services, restaurants, coffee …
“The strategy of Places Victoria and the council has been to try and develop Walker Street as that commercial hub for Dandenong, like the upper end of Collins Street.”
Mr Castricum expects the project to prompt renovations at the current ATO building on Mason Street.
“I think the strategy would be pretty clear,” he said.
“We’re looking to bring people in.”
He’s excited about more projects on the way, but said a lack of long-term parking needed to be addressed. He said there was plenty of one-hour parking for shoppers.
“But what we need in Dandenong is parking for probably four hours-plus and eight hours-plus,” he said.
“That’s the next challenge council needs to face.”
Places Victoria CEO Peter Seamer said 30 per cent of land in the precinct was now developed, under construction, or committed to be developed to help Dandenong “regain its title as the economic hub of the south east”.
He said Revitalising Central Dandenong is almost half way to attracting $1 billion in private investment over the project’s 15 to 20-year life.
There are 13 remaining sites in the Revitalising Central Dandenong area that will be contracted to developers in response to market demand.
