Revitalising Central Dandenong moves into development phase
Nearly six years after Capital Alliance was appointed to redevelop five sites in central Dandenong, demolition works have begun on the first stage.
The Melbourne developer was selected by Development Victoria in to deliver the Revitalising Central Dandenong project across 1.9 hectares.
The first works, being carried out with Development Victoria, are at 91-93 Foster Street, where buildings are being razed.
The initial stage will deliver more than 300 apartments, about 12,000 square metres of retail space and about 350 car parks.
The retail component is expected to include a supermarket, food and beverage outlets and other commercial uses.
A renewed Little India precinct will also form part of the development.
Dandenong has for decades been marketed by agents and planners as ‘Melbourne’s second city’.
Construction finally begins
When it won the tender, managed by Colliers’ Robert Papaleo, Capital Alliance said it expected to start construction in 2023.
The state government approved a planning scheme amendment the following year,
Construction permits were issued four months ago.
Last week, temporary engineered fencing went up and tree protection zones were installed.
The first stage is slightly changed – Capital Alliance initially mooted c470 dwellings.
Stages 3 to 7 (Precincts 2 and 3) will add education, healthcare and a hotel with conference centre.
It will also contain an entertainment district.
Open spaces have been master-planned throughout (continues below).
The staged demolition works will include Thomas St shops during Stage 1, Foster St shops during Stage 2 and Mason St shops during Stage 3, a Capital Alliance statement said.
Revitalisation already happening
After more than five years pre-planning, RCD was unveiled in 2006.
Subsequent years were spent by Development Victoria and the City of Greater Dandenong amalgamating what were dozens of small sites to make way for ‘super-sites’ able to yield large scale development.
Some of these projects were delivered in private-public partnerships.
The government planners also improved amenity and connection from the Dandenong train station to Dandenong Plaza.
The Drum Theatre opened 20 years ago following the redevelopment of the former Dandenong Town Hall, creating a performing arts venue in the heart of the CBD.
Other major projects included the Stockmans Bridge redevelopment, the Dandenong Market upgrade and the Lonsdale Street boulevard works.
The Government Services Office, completed in 2011, the Dandenong Civic Centre and Harmony Square (2014) and the Australian Taxation Office building (2015), are others.
The Civic Centre precinct brought together council offices, a library and public square.
Also delivered to accompany the RCD initiative is a Quest Apartments complex, the multi-sport park and Salvation Army Community Hub.
The state government has committed $290m to the redevelopment.
Around $700m to date has been spent by the private sector expected to rise to over $1 billion once Capital Alliance is complete.
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