Council recently voted to bring forward the timelines for a detailed design of the Dandenong Community Hub.
Previously scheduled for the 2024–25 financial year, at a recent Council meeting I moved a motion to bring this process forward using money set aside for major projects in the 2023–24 Budget.
The first round of community workshops and consultation held in May 2021 established a vision and purpose for the Hub. Later that year a preferred site was selected on Clow Street, between Sleeth Avenue and Stuart Street.
In 2022 draft concept designs were developed, and in October–November last year the community was consulted on a preferred design for the site. Across community pop-up sessions, an online survey and in person survey sessions, 238 people voted on their favourite out of three design options. The majority of respondents selected option 2, which includes a single storey building with outdoor space and a community garden, which would allow for the retention of an established large tree.
The Hub will be an integrated, intergenerational space, which will include a kindergarten, childcare, maternal and child health service, and community activity and meeting rooms.
This Hub is very much needed in Dandenong and will benefit our growing population, in particular those who are at a higher level of disadvantage. By pulling the design timelines forward it means the project, which is expected to cost around $32 million, will be shovel ready in time for us to advocate for state and federal government funding ahead of the 2025 and 2026 elections.
Once we have a detailed design we will go back out to the public for further consultation, so watch this space.
In the meantime if you want to contact me you can email me at jim.memeti@cgd.vic.gov.au or phone me on 0434 560 239.
