By CASEY NEILL
THE Salvos are leaving Doveton, but are promising not to leave behind people in need.
The charity is building a new $12 million heart in the centre of Dandenong that will relocate the Salvation Army eastern regional headquarters from Mitcham, include a new church and bring about 45 jobs to the area.
State Planning Minister Richard Wynn announced the Revitalising Central Dandenong deal between Places Victoria and the Salvation Army in Dandenong on Friday.
The Doveton Community Support Services and thrift shop in Frawley Road, Doveton, will relocate to the currently-vacant block on the corner of Cadle Street and George Street (which becomes Walker Street).
Dandenong Salvation Army corps officer Captain Stuart McGifford said the team at Doveton saw up to 400 clients each month.
“We know that 57 per cent travel from the City of Greater Dandenong,” he said.
“About 33 per cent are from Doveton. We’re still working out how we can best respond to them.
“We believe it will have less of an impact than continuing to operate our service outside of Dandenong.”
He said the new site was close to Dandenong railway station and Princes Highway and that services were currently scattered across four locations in Dandenong and Doveton.
“We really believe that it’s going to be able to provide a better service for our clients,” he said.
The Dandenong Corps is in James Street, Dandenong, and the court chaplaincy program runs from the Dandenong Magistrates’ Court.
SalvoCare Eastern Support and Recovery Services will relocate from Foster Street, Dandenong, and offers drug and alcohol counselling, a positive lifestyle program and anger management courses.
“It’s really exciting to be in one place, to be able to provide good referrals, to be able to support each other and provide a synergy as we work together,” Captain McGifford said.
“We also look forward to growing a church with heart, in the heart of our city.“
The land sale has been two and a half years in the making and construction is due to start early next year to wrap up within three years.
The Salvos will sell the existing Dandenong sites to fund the project.
“The building will be so much more beautiful and so much better to operate in,” Captain McGifford said.
“And it’s really exciting from an economic point of view, to bring something positive to that area.”
The $290 million Revitalising Central Dandenong initiative was announced in 2006 and is a partnership between Places Victoria, the City of Greater Dandenong and State Government agencies.
