The Victorian government has released draft concept plans for precincts around each station of the Suburban Rail Loop East project.
It is part of a substantial community consultation phase in the planning process for the six new stations.
The Suburban Rail Loop East project, which has $2.2 billion in federal and state funding, recently won the green light to proceed after the federal infrastructure review but with no additional funding granted.
Affordable housing options, jobs, transport, healthcare and education have been included in the precinct concept plans after three years of consulting with the community—migration and the need for housing were identified as a key concern.
The feedback allows the community to choose what level of development change they want to see in each precinct.
“With Melbourne’s population set to be the size of London by 2050, we need to move away from our traditional focus on a single CBD and evolve into a city of centres—connected places where people can access the things they need, closer to home,” Victorian minister for suburban rail loop Danny Pearson said.
“We need to build up as well as out, ensuring Victorians can afford to live where they want, close to where they work, in thriving and sustainable communities. The SRL Precincts Plans put forward a vision for how this could look, and we’ll keep listening to communities as we continue the planning work.”
The Suburban Rail Loop East project will create a connection between Cheltenham and Box Hill, and key employment, health and education centres in the eastern and south-eastern suburbs such as Monash University’s Clayton and Caulfield campuses.
Up to 8000 jobs are expected to be created during construction. Work got under way this year at Box Hill, Burwood, Glen Waverley, Monash and the stabling site at Heatherton.
As part of that work, a tunnel-boring machine launch site at Burwood is being built and underground services moved to allow for construction of tunnels and stations.
Tunnel-boring machines will be in the ground in 2026 and trains are expected to be scheduled for passengers in 2035.
Seven community panels including a youth panel, online surveys and face-to-face engagement is being planned as part of the community feedback process.
Residents, businesses and other stakeholders can make submissions at srleastvisions.com.au
