CBD from the creek trail south of Meridian. April 6, 2015.

Regarding Dandenong

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If You Build It, They Will Come
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (10 Dec 2018)

I thought I would pop up again after close to two years' absence to note that there's been quite a few articles on the Team 11 bid in recent days.

150 Years of the Journal
Dandenong Journal (18 Aug 2015)

Read on Dandenong Journal →
RD: I was remiss last week in not pointing to The Journal's 150th anniversary special edition. It was fantastic — it provides a really great historical context for both the paper and the city. I highly recommend checking it out. Read more...

A Rank Ranking Rankles
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (9 Nov 2015)

The Age ran a feature on Saturday on suburb liveability.

The Case for Relocating VicRoads to Dandenong
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (30 Dec 2014)

I only just discovered that the previous Liberal government had proposed relocating VicRoads to Ballarat back in March.

The Gateway Park Proposal
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (24 Sep 2014)

Cr Peter Brown has suggested recently using the undeveloped south-side of the railway as a gateway park.

Lobby to stop levy
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (24 Jul 2015)

The State Government is being called to scrap a developers' levy which is designed to recoup the cost of the Revitalising Central Dandenong project. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: Well, about time! (I think I'm justified in saying that after 8 years.) The levy was an interesting and risky idea when the Revitalising project kicked off. Interesting because it showed a lot of faith in the whole project. Risky because you put taxes (levies) on things you want to discourage (you know, things like emitting carbon). And you make people pay it up front when you really want to discourage something. That's the complete opposite of what (you would think) was desired here.

Economics 101 tells you that since the market was already setting the price of development, and development wasn't happening at that price (that was the whole point of revitalisation), adding a tax on top of things was only going to work if people thought the State Government's initiatives were so spectacularly brilliant that they would compensate for the tax and then some. Turns out nobody thought that. Developers did buy in initially, but underlying demand was weak — perhaps because most people who lived here viewed the revitalisation as intangible and unrealistic, and people who didn't live here didn't believe anything of interesting was going on here. All of which turned out to be self-fulfilling!

We learnt this information really early on, so the tax should have disappeared really early on. According to the article, it did disappear — for specific, government-linked clients. For everyone else, it didn't. Who knows how that cost us? Hopefully business manager Paul Kearsley, and hopefully he can communicate that well enough to the State Government to get this clearly perverse disincentive removed.
Read more...

Updates

Business Parks Flourish in the Region
vaughans.com.au (1 Nov 2014)

Dynamic Dandenong is continuing to see new business parks and industrial estates being developed with a range of offerings available. Read on vaughans.com.au →
RD: A press release, but interesting all the same. Read more...

Atura continues expansion
thenibbler.com.au (30 Oct 2014)

AHL will oversee the Chiefly Doveton rebranded and reimagined to become an edgier, high-design, high-value Atura Dandenong, the first for the group outside of New South Wales. Read on thenibbler.com.au →
RD: Well, I do think Doveton and Eumemmering should be a part of Greater Dandenong. Read more...

Melbourne’s next mini city to rise at Caribbean Park
cbre.com.au (30 Oct 2014)

A new era is dawning for Melbourne’s Caribbean Park as the first two of more than 40 proposed office buildings take shape. Read on cbre.com.au →
RD: Discovered via a poster at Urban Melbourne. Is this site on any Planning Melbourne document? Is it on anyone's radar of any sort? This is either an example of poor planning, or we have a policy of letting the market do city-shaping planning for us — which might be OK, if the public is at least aware that's how it works. Read more...

Six reasons to visit Dandenong
smh.com.au (29 Oct 2014)

2. LITTLE INDIA Read on smh.com.au →
RD: Perhaps someone should pass this article along to Daniel Andrews, who appears to be completely unaware of what's going on in the electoral district right next door to his own. Of course, he could just have been quoted out of context. Read more...

Quest development continues Dandenong revitalisation
smh.com.au (29 Oct 2014)

A new development is set to get the go ahead in Dandenong, indicating that the Revitalising Central Dandenong (RCD) project, Australia's second biggest urban renewal program after Melbourne's Docklands, is still on track. Read on smh.com.au →
RD: "The central precinct has been divided into 19 sites, with six now developed, under development or committed for development. " Six? The civic centre, government services building, Quest, ATO and the PEP building makes 5. Maybe they're including Mosaic, but that's not in the central precinct. Then again, there's either much more or much less than 19 sites, so who knows where these figures come from. Read more...

Labor’s Diwali gift: Indian precinct in Melbourne
southasiatimes.com.au (27 Oct 2014)

Leader of opposition in Victoria and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs, Hon. Daniel Andrews, today announced Labor will build an, ‘Indian Cultural Precinct’ in Melbourne, if elected to govern Victoria on 29 November, when Victoria goes to polls to elect a new government. Read on southasiatimes.com.au →
RD: Gee, I thought there already was an Indian Cultural Precinct in Melbourne. Oh, sorry, we obviously don't count — apparently, we aren't even a part of Victoria: "In his announcement Hon. Daniel Andrews did not mention ‘Little India’ but said, “Victoria’s Indian community is Australia’s largest, but doesn’t have a precinct to call its own – Labor will fix this."" Read more...

Is Dandenong headed for a fire sale?
urbanmelbourne.info (27 Oct 2014)

In recent weeks numerous vacant central Dandenong development lots have been placarded with 'Land for sale' signage, representing a sizeable chunk of real estate within the precinct controlled by Places Victoria. Read on urbanmelbourne.info →
RD: I'd find it quite strange if this were a fire-sale (which would suggest an exit of Places Victoria altogether), as recent talk was about putting together a prospectus to attract suitable businesses to the area. Then again, elections have a habit of causing strange behaviour.

This also suggests the health precinct negotiations have fallen over — which is incomprehensible, really, given how straightforward the proposition should have been. Read more...

New abattoir brings hundreds of jobs to Dandenong
premier.vic.gov.au (24 Oct 2014)

The construction of a new $30 million abattoir in Dandenong will create hundreds of local jobs and help boost Victorian food exports to Asian markets, Premier Denis Napthine announced today.

Shoppers rejoice at new retail precinct
heraldsun.com.au (20 Oct 2014)

Dandenong is swiftly developing a reputation for being a bargain hunters’ paradise, according to Dandenong Retail Traders’ Association president Glenys Cooper. Read on heraldsun.com.au →
RD: Interesting marketing approach to our current retail scene. I think it's sound, as retail activity in Dandenong is actually very healthy, it's just operating in a different part of the market to (say) the newer mega-shopping centres. Read more...

2014 National Landscape Architecture Award: Urban Design
architectureau.com (19 Oct 2014)

2014 National Award of Excellence for Urban Design Revitalising Central Dandenong: Lonsdale Street Redevelopment Read on architectureau.com →
RD: Nice. The street is also starting to look great again, now that the foliage has returned. Read more...

Dandenong rail upgrade in disarray
theage.com.au (17 Oct 2014)

A multibillion-dollar upgrade of the Dandenong railway line is in disarray after the Napthine government said on Friday it would not sign contracts with the consortium delivering the project until next year.

Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti looks back on his time in the chair as council sets its election priorities
heraldsun.com.au (16 Oct 2014)

As Mayor Jim Memeti looks out over the ­Dandenong civic square, he is overwhelmed with pride for his city.

Small steps open doors
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (13 Oct 2014)

A Greater Dandenong business delegation will build stepping stones to open opportunities in China. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: I think a key quote comes from Paul Kearsley: "Paramatta are probably about 10 years ahead of where we are at the moment in terms of development opportunities." While I can see some of the foundations falling into place, it certainly feels like we're further away than that. Read more...

Chinese cheer
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (13 Oct 2014)

Bangholme’s paddocks could be home to a giant theme park under a proposal from a China-based developer. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: I'm not so sure about this one. If it's a very nature-oriented park (and not too much of a 'theme' park) it might be OK. Read more...

Final stage of Dingley Bypass to be completed within two years | Herald Sun
heraldsun.com.au (13 Oct 2014)

Work is finally under way on the last section of the Dingley Bypass that will connect the southeast. Read on heraldsun.com.au →
RD: Actually, this isn't the last section of the whole road — the bit between Sth Gipps Fwy and Sth Gipps Hwy still needs to be built. Read more...

Dandenong SkyscraperCity Thread
skyscrapercity.com (8 Oct 2014)

"Demolition has started to clear the site for the new quest apartments in dandenong. "

City of Greater Dandenong Festive Windows
Dandenong Journal (6 Oct 2014)

Greater Dandenong Business is giving retailers across the municipality an opportunity to celebrate the busy festive sales period and increase their presence in the retail areas by participating in a festive window display. Read on Dandenong Journal →
RD: From an ad on Page 57. Interesting idea. This is the kind of thing I'd like to see the council do more often — i.e. using its unique role to help coordinate beneficial activities across businesses that would otherwise not occur on their own. Read more...

Shops fill Myer's shoes
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (6 Oct 2014)

Dandenong Plaza will unveil its $40 million post-Myer transformation in less than two weeks. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: A little more info. Also, slightly more frankness about Myer's closing from the Mayor than I was expecting (which is a good thing). Read more...

Re-education programs on the agenda for unemployed
neoskosmos.com (3 Oct 2014)

Speaking in Dandenong, in Melbourne's south east, last week, Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Skills, Nick Wakeling, announced new measures implemented by the Napthine government aimed at rejuvenating economic and employment growth, by investing in training systems for the unemployed.

Greater Dandenong's state election wishlist
greaterdandenong.com (2 Oct 2014)

With the November State Government Election fast approaching there are a number of key issues facing the Council and the City of Greater Dandenong community that require State Government support and advocacy.

Dandenong Plaza redevelopment, new shops, to be unveiled this month
heraldsun.com.au (2 Oct 2014)

A $34 million redevelopment of the Dandenong Plaza is expected to generate up to 50 new jobs and give Greater Dandenong a major economic injection.

New centre to help sexual assault victims opens in Dandenong
premier.vic.gov.au (2 Oct 2014)

A new $10 million sexual assault support centre has been officially opened today to provide Dandenong, Casey and Cardinia residents with integrated support for adults and children who have experienced sexual assault or abuse.

Turning the tide in the badlands
urbanmelbourne.info (2 Oct 2014)

Asked once why I disliked fringe Melbourne housing estates so vehemently I replied those residing there were 'existing without living'. Read on urbanmelbourne.info →
RD: While I'm not so sure about the condescending tone of this article, St Germain Village (in Clyde and announced back in February) does sound like a good approach to new town developments. It will have a medical hub at its heart and provide a substantial amount of jobs, alongside the usual new housing. Read more...

Revitalising Central Dandenong
places.vic.gov.au (1 Oct 2014)

The Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative is rejuvenating Dandenong’s city centre and re-establishing Dandenong as the capital of Melbourne’s growing south east region. Read on places.vic.gov.au →
RD: After 7 (or so) years, the Revitalising Central Dandenong website is no longer, and its content has been absorbed into the Places Victoria site. The new (sub)site has some content updates, and suggests that Quest Apartments is under construction, although I didn't see any evidence of that when I passed by yesterday. Read more...

Watch the rainbow
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (29 Sep 2014)

Neighbourhood Watch and police are reaching out to multicultural communities to make Greater Dandenong safer.

Backyard blitz
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (29 Sep 2014)

The people have spoken: no high-rise apartments should be built near their suburban backyards, according to Greater Dandenong Council consultation. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: I'm not sure we needed a survey to tell us that existing residents object to change which increases density. Hopefully, the survey resulted in something slightly more interesting, such as how people want to handle increased density, which thankfully is what Cr Kirwan appears to be more focussed on. Read more...

Banks pull the plug
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (29 Sep 2014)

Foreign money exchanges in Dandenong could close en masse after being abandoned by the ‘Big Four’ banks. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: I'm linking to this just because I find it so curious. Read more...

Labor pledges $7m for Lyndale Secondary College rebuild
heraldsun.com.au (29 Sep 2014)

Labor has pledged $7 million towards Lyndale Secondary College’s rebuild if elected to State Government in November. Read on heraldsun.com.au →
RD: Dandenong High School has also been promised $3m for a Senior Studies Centre, but nobody's committing to fund the final stage of the redevelopment. Read more...

2014 Australian Timber Design Award Winners
timberawards.com.au (25 Sep 2014)

The 2014 Australian Timber Design Award went to Bates Smart (in collaboration with Irwin Allsop Group) for Dandenong Mental Health Facility. Read on timberawards.com.au →
RD: Well deserved. This building's fantastic. Read more...

Safety the focus of intersection improvements in Dandenong
rich-phillips.com.au (25 Sep 2014)

A $756,000 funding boost for safety measures in Dandenong will be welcome news for all road users travelling in the area, Member for South Eastern Metropolitan Region Gordon Rich-Phillips announced today. Read on rich-phillips.com.au →
RD: How on earth can this cost $756K? The median full-time wage is (apparently) about $70K, so this amount is enough to employ 10 people, full-time for 1 year. I guess this is why infrastructure is so hard to do here. <end rant> Read more...

Sex abuse centre to open in Dandenong
theage.com.au (24 Sep 2014)

A $10 million centre at the forefront of Victoria Police's fight against sexual abuse will open in Dandenong on Wednesday. RD: This is located in the building at 1 Dandenong Street

The Gateway Park Proposal
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (24 Sep 2014)

Cr Peter Brown has suggested recently using the undeveloped south-side of the railway as a gateway park.

New $5 million multi-agency emergency management hub opened in Dandenong
premier.vic.gov.au (23 Sep 2014)

Fire services personnel in the Southern Metropolitan region have a new headquarters and multi-agency facility with the official opening of the $5 million CFA District 8 Headquarters and Southern Metropolitan Region Emergency Management Complex in Dandenong South.

Headquarters officially open
leader.newspaperdirect.com (22 Sep 2014)

The $5. 08 million CFA District 8 Headquarters and southern Metropolitan Region Emergency Management Complex at Dandenong South will officially open tomorrow. Read on leader.newspaperdirect.com →
RD: See Page 6. Read more...

They're grand for the final
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (22 Sep 2014)

Before the bounce to the final celebrations, the City of Greater Dandenong’s biggest footy fans will get to watch the AFL Grand Final live in the Civic Square. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: Good idea to tie it into the Children's festival. Read more...

Vote for mayor election
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (22 Sep 2014)

Mayor-aspirant John Kelly has said “it’s time” that Greater Dandenong’s mayoral election was decided by the electorate. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: This might be a good idea, as it could increase the profile of the mayor, provide a more obvious and enduring 'human face' to the council and ultimately give the community a stronger voice. Of course, it could also turn out very bad if the wrong person gets in. (As in any democratic system!) Read more...

For Sale: 80 Princes Highway
firstnational.com.au (19 Sep 2014)

Great opportunity to secure the chance to develop 22 apartments in Dandenong.

Discount Retail Sector A Target For Entrepreneurial Australian Chains
theurbandeveloper.com (19 Sep 2014)

Fast expanding retail chain Cheap as Chips has seized an opportunity to expand its Victorian platform by subleasing a major site in Dandenong.

Sold: 57-59 Stud Road
realestate.com.au (12 Sep 2014)

RD: Sold with plans & permits for 4 storey on the corner of Stud Road and Ann Street

Precinct F
Regarding Dandenong: Blog (12 Sep 2014)

A response to a question at Monday's council meeting sheds a bit of light on how the council sees redevelopment progressing on the south side of the station:

@greaterdandy
twitter.com (9 Sep 2014)

We are broadcasting the Grand Final parade on the Friday and the Grand Final from 2pm on the Saturday. Read on twitter.com →
RD: Hopefully, they advertise this well. I feel they're still very much trying to get a sense of how to make good use of the screen. Read more...

Bridge over troubled waters
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (9 Sep 2014)

Places Victoria is set to build a long-awaited bridge across Dandenong Creek.

Park gateway gets backing
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (9 Sep 2014)

Greater Dandenong Mayor Jim Memeti has partially backed a proposed parkland gateway into Dandenong on Cheltenham Road.

For Sale: 285 Thomas Street
realcommercial.com.au (8 Sep 2014)

Dandenong's Best Mixed Use Corner Development Site Read on realcommercial.com.au →
RD: This one's on the market again. (So this and City Rise are both currently on the market.) Read more...

Chisholm Institute L3 Refurbishment 311 Lonsdale St. Tender
estimateone.com (8 Sep 2014)

Chisholm Institute L3 Refurbishment 311 Lonsdale St. is a construction tender in the Education field listed within EstimateOne. Read on estimateone.com →
RD: Chisholm is expanding into Level 3 of the building. I think that only leaves the top level of the building now. Read more...

Residential Zones for Greater Dandenong
greaterdandenong.com (7 Sep 2014)

Hundreds of submissions were received in the form of the feedback forms, emails, letters, and surveys. All submissions to the project have been acknowledged.

56-58 Langhorne Street
realestate.com.au (5 Sep 2014)

Luxury Living In The Heart Of Dandenong RD: 4 storey at the corner of Langhorne and Wilson Streets

Greater Dandenong Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2018
greaterdandenong.com (4 Sep 2014)

The City of Greater Dandenong Tourism Strategy and Action Plan 2014-2018 outlines the council's strategic direction for the development, management and marketing of Greater Dandenong as a visitor destination.

Welcome - Invest In Melbourne
investinmelbourne.com.au (4 Sep 2014)

Melbourne offers a uniquely diverse range of business opportunities in a growing and vibrant economy, all on the doorstep of the world’s most liveable city. Read on investinmelbourne.com.au →
RD: I haven't seen this site before. It's actually for south-east Melbourne, not Melbourne in general. Read more...

To market, for millions
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

Five million people shop at the Dandenong market each year, ranking it alongside Melbourne’s other premier markets the Queen Victoria, South Melbourne and Prahran.

Light touch of Afghanistan
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

Thomas Street is a slice of Afghanistan in central Dandenong.

Making their own future
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

South East Melbourne Manufacturers’ Alliance (SEMMA) is the peak industry group for more than 200 companies in the region, where almost half of Victoria’s manufactured products are created. It has set up a new base in Dandenong South. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: The success of Dandenong South is great. But if we can't house the offices in the CBD, then the city can't benefit from concentration. Read more...

Dandy's food-led recovery
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

Traders are hoping a food-led revival in central Dandenong will flow into other retailers’ pockets.

Gandhi plan for Little India
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

A statue immortalising former independence leader Mahatma Gandhi may be the crowning glory to the Little India precinct’s budding rebirth.

Boom is set
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

The highly anticipated new shopping precinct at Dandenong Plaza is getting its finishing touches, ahead of its unveiling later this year. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: The JB that's opening up is a JB Home. I'm seriously hoping that means the JB on Cleeland Street sticks around, but it doesn't seem likely. Read more...

Community beats to Drum
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

Drum Theatre is helping to foster Dandenong’s heart and soul. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: The new Casey theatre will compete for performances with the Drum when it comes online in a few years time. I'm not convinced it will increase the number of performers visiting the south-east enough to be a net benefit, but I hope so. Read more...

Hub of south-east reborn
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au (2 Sep 2014)

Greater Dandenong is fast re-emerging as the commercial, manufacturing, artistic, educational and dining hub of the south east. Read on dandenong.starcommunity.com.au →
RD: Lots of interesting articles in The Journal this week about the progress of Dandenong's redevelopment. It's good to get an overview of all the threads that are slowly coming together. Read more...

Tall buildings and the public realm
urbanmelbourne.info (1 Sep 2014)

The love affair with tall buildings is undeniable. Read on urbanmelbourne.info →
RD: Quite a good article on how to design buildings that not only integrate well with the surrounds, but also strengthen an area's social fabric. Read more...

Sold: 79 Ann Street Dandenong
realestate.com.au (30 Aug 2014)

Fantastic project just emerged on the market in Central Dandenongs Favourite Street!

Government: Public TV lands in Dandenong
smh.com.au (30 Aug 2014)

A seven-metre wide digital screen is being used to strengthen the sense of community in Melbourne's multicultural south east.