In February, I achieved my one-year anniversary with the City of Greater Dandenong. They say time flies when you are having fun, so I thought I would take this opportunity to highlight some of the amazing achievements the City Futures team has achieved during this time.
Strategic and Environmental Planning
Completed the 2023 Tree Canopy Coverage Audit – coverage significantly increased from 9% in 2021 to 14.1% in 2023. We are now very close to our 2028 target of 15% coverage.
Park projects were completed at many sites across the municipality including Frederick Wachter Reserve, Bakers Reserve, Springvale Reserve, and Spring Valley Reserve. Improved community engagement processes have also been developed to ensure park projects, including our district park projects at Lois Twohig, Fredrick Wachter and Greaves Reserve continue to improve the provision of active and social recreation opportunities for the community.
Sustainability Festival held in February with over 3000 attendees taking part in a wide range of sustainability related workshops. Council’s first Op-Shop Trail, involving all 12 op shops in the municipality was also run in the lead up to the festival, which raised community awareness of textile waste and promoted second-hand shopping.
The Sandown Racecourse Redevelopment Advisory Committee Hearing was held in August 2024, with Council actively involved in the matter.
Statutory Planning
Achieved an average of 84% PPAR days (applications completed within 60 statutory days).
Infrastructure Services
The severe weather system with damaging winds and torrential rain in February 2024 impacted the south east Melbourne and Greater Dandenong areas. More than 1500 tree related requests were received because of the severe weather event. It is estimated, a quarter of Council Street and Park trees, approximately 20,000 – 25,000 trees were damaged or impacted by the storm. All staff involved quickly mobilised and worked during the storm and into the evening operating systematically over the following weeks to inspect, make safe urgent tree related requests and clean up our streets and parks.
A major review of the Parks Service unit, functions, service delivery mechanisms, structure and financial position has been completed. A proposed structure, service delivery model has been developed and finalised in preparation for consultation with the Parks team.
City of Greater Dandenong partnered with 8 other Councils on an advanced waste procurement process (SEMAWP) to secure Council’s waste disposal needs for the next 25 years. This was a key achievement for Council due to landfill closures, the diminishing landfill capacity available, and the increasing cost of waste disposal gate fees and landfill levy. This achievement will also aid in the reduction of waste to landfill by diverting a minimum of 80% waste from landfill.
Continued implementation of Council’s Electric Vehicle (EV) transition plan with the purchase of an additional 7 x hybrid vehicles and 6 x full EV vehicles over the past 12 months (with a further 1 x EV van and 1 x EV small tipper truck currently on order). Specialist consultants have also been engaged to update and broaden the scope of Council’s ‘Fleet Decarbonisation Plan’ to incorporate other aspect like emerging technologies, driver behaviours and fleet rationalisation.
Business Development and Investment
Council adopted the five-year Springvale Revitalisation Action Plan.
The Economic Development Team prepared a comprehensive Economic and Place Profile for the City of Greater Dandenong (CGD) to gain insights into the municipality’s present economic environment, unique place attributes, emerging trends, and future opportunities in key business and industrial areas of CGD.
The South East Business Networks team hosted over 60 network sessions, service programs and events throughout the year.
Major Projects
The construction of the Keysborough South Community Hub commenced with the expected completion timeline of mid-2025 and to be open in late 2025.
The WJ Crowe Pavilion at Thomas Carroll Reserve opened (including access to social rooms) on February 2024.
The tender for construction of the Dandenong Wellbeing Centre closed in November and evaluations were undertaken in December. A report was tabled for consideration and is to be heard by Council in early March 2025 for a decision.
Capital Program Update - As of the end of February 2025, Total spend is $57.8M, comprising $28.1M actuals (works already complete) and $29.7M committed (contracts awarded and works underway).
Councils 24/25FY budget of $122.5M (which includes $29.1M carried over from the 23/24 year), was revised down to $98M at the adoption of the mid-year budget in January 2025.
The current works complete and underway equates to 59% of the revised mid-year budget of $98M
Building Maintenance
Work requests consistently exceed set KPI of 90% on “On Time Completion of Requests” for the past 12 months.
Transport and Civil Development
Following Council assistance during the detailed design process and advocacy to expedite delivery, Federal funding was secured by the Victorian Government to install traffic signals at the intersection of Stud Road and McFees Road. Works are anticipated to commence in May 2025 and be completed by November 2025.
Additional funding was secured from the Level Crossing Removal Projects in the municipality to cover Council officer resourcing to liaise with the project teams, and funding to offset loss of life to the Fowler Road pavement due to traffic changes associated with the Progress Street level crossing removal. This funding follows $1.64m secured in 2024 for the delivery of a path on Fowler Road.
Officers have commenced negotiations with the Victorian Government / TAC regarding access to $2m worth of funding for road safety upgrade infrastructure through their Safe Local Roads and Streets Program.
Building and Compliance
The Building and Compliance team received 712 building service reports, 507 planning compliance merits and 185 food complaints for the year.
The Planning Compliance team has received some excellent court results. Recently a local business plead guilty to a number of charges under the Planning and Environment Act. The accused company was fined an aggregate sum of $12,000 and ordered to pay Councils costs of $5,000. The company also agreed to remediate the land under terms of a Sec 173 agreement at their cost.
The Building and Compliance team celebrated some personal professional acknowledgements within the team:
Mel Howes nominated as a finalist for young EHO of the year at the Environmental Health Professionals Association night in December.
George Drakopoulos on achieving his Building Surveying Unlimited accreditation.
Jerry Hu completing his Building Surveying Degree.
Keep up the good work everyone.
Sanjay Manivasagasivam
Executive Director, City Futures