By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
GREATER Dandenong Council has plans to transform two dreary Springvale laneways as well as turn Springvale Road into a boulevard.
Springvale Asian Business Association president Daniel Cheng says Post Office Lane and Laneway 248 – two utter blank canvases – could become vibrant links in the activity centre.
Suggestions have included al fresco dining and homages to Springvale’s unique history, including its waves of migration.
Post Office Lane, which links Springvale Road and Warwick Avenue, could help bring alive Springvale CBD’s east, Mr Cheng said.
“It would be great to see more businesses come alive in Warwick Avenue. At the moment, everything is concentrated in Buckingham, Windsor and Balmoral avenues.”
The boulevard project includes a streetscape upgrade of Springvale Road between Virginia Street and St James Avenue over the next four-to-six years.
Mr Cheng warned there could be retailer upheaval as footpaths are torn up during the works, citing the near shut-down of parts of Dandenong’s CBD during recent major street works.
“There must be some way to work out how to avoid stopping traffic to the shops.”
Greater Dandenong Council has held community forums into the laneways’ future, with a further survey on its website.
The council’s business group manager Paul Kearsley said a concept design – taking into account the public’s input – will be developed in coming weeks.
Work is expected to start on the laneways in mid-late 2016.
Mr Kearsley said the council had budgeted to prepare a concept design for the boulevard project in 2016/17. An extensive community consultation will be held over the next three months.
“It aims to transform Springvale Road into a signature boulevard that provides a strong visual and physical connection to the retail and station precinct.”
The aim was to reinforce the activity centre as one of Melbourne’s cultural destinations, he said.
