DANDENONG
dandenong.starcommunity.com.au
Tuesday, 1 June, 2021
/DandenongJournal
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Dangerous road fix
Tribute to Betty Wilderman
Where are they now?
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SPORT
12496498-DL22-21
Covid business blow
40¢ Inc. GST
Covid reflections Noble Park photographer Vinh ‘Vinny’ Nguyen takes an abstract look at Dandenong railway station during lockdown. For more on his exhibition, turn to page 12.
Picture: GARY SISSONS
Higher ambitions By Cam Lucadou-Wells
12494686-RC21-21
After public outcry, a plan to allow structure heights of up to eight storeys in Noble Park’s “village” business district has been scaled down. But the activity centre is potentially set to get a lot taller, allowing towers up to 21 metres in a bid to attract “high quality redevelopment”. Om 24 May, Grater Dandenong Council adopted the Noble Park Major Activity Centre Structure Plan, which would allow six-storey heights at nine key redevelopment sites.
They include a potential “landmark” gateway development at the Coles site, the Noble Manor site in Frank Street, MiCare Aged Care in Noble Street, and Noble Park RSL. Other sites are VicTrack land opposite the railway station at 51A-57A Douglas Street, 3549 Buckley Street and 4-14 Leonard Avenue. The plan suggests rezoning the sites from Residential Growth Zone 2 to Commercial 1 Zone, which would require a separate planning amendment. The rest of the CBD would have height limits of five storeys, according to a council report. The planning amendment will be assessed
by Planning Minister Richard Wynne. According to a council report, the new height limits match the suburb’s significant change – including the “transformational” sixstorey-tall Sky Rail and elevated train station. After “strong” public feedback, the council scaled down its mooted eight-storey height limits to protect the “village character”. “Six storeys is considered acceptable as this reflects the height of the train station.” The upper height limit will only be allowed on sites that are at least 2000 square metres. By 2040, Noble Park CBD is expected to in-
clude an extra 917 dwellings – mainly in apartments, the report stated. Four-storey apartments on each of the key redevelopment sites are expected to yield a total 1100-plus dwellings. The structure plan will also help cater for the district’s anticipated extra 9800 square metres of commercial floorspace. Despite the large population rise, Noble Park’s “extremely efficient” traffic and parking would be expected to continue, a council report stated. Continued page 3
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