When work begins this month on upgrading Young St, it will signal the beginning of a massive project designed to transform the heart of Frankston.

The $63 million revitalisation of the Frankston station precinct will unfold over the next three years and will, the State Government says, “transform the precinct into a safer, more modern place of business and activity and grow investment towards the long-term vision of a revitalised Frankston city centre”. It will include rebuilding the station itself, consolidating buses on Young St and upgrading the subway.

Stage one of the project is the $13 million Young St upgrade, which is expected to be completed by next March and will include a high-quality pedestrian streetscape, better carparking access and management, new plazas and improved safety measures.

Frankston Mayor James Dooley said the “positive long-term economic, environmental and social benefits” of the precinct transformation went “right to the core” of the council’s Frankston Metropolitan Activity Centre Structure Plan.

“This key project has been at the top of the Frankston community’s priority list for many years, with the development of Young St being an exciting first step towards changing the face of Frankston,” Cr Dooley said.

“Young St is a very important gateway in our city centre, and we look forward to it being transformed into a hub for our community members and visitors to meet, shop and enjoy spending leisure time in.”

As part of a broad plan to realise the long-known potential of Frankston, the Young St upgrade will support other imminent private sector developments, including the expansion of Chisholm TAFE and the station rebuild. These major projects will boost the local economy and increase the liveability of the city centre through more housing, education and employment options.

“Residential apartments will bring benefits to the city, including an increase in safety in the Frankston centre with the space activated 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” Cr Dooley said.