The Victorian government's Suburban Rail Loop is set to dramatically reshape Melbourne's cityscape with 70,000 new homes planned around six station precincts.
Public consultation around the Suburban Rail Loop is now open for Melburnians to provide feedback on draft planning scheme amendments and structure plans released earlier this month, with submissions closing on 22 April.
The Suburban Rail Loop Authority has already received nearly 10,000 online submissions during years of community engagement, helping to refine building height limits across the proposed developments. Commercial areas may see increased height allowances, while more residential zones have had proposed heights reduced.
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Under the new planning amendments, developments meeting specific criteria will benefit from streamlined approval processes, cutting through bureaucratic red tape to accelerate housing construction near major transport hubs. Importantly, protections for sunlight access over parks and open spaces will remain in place.
Construction of SRL East connecting Cheltenham to Box Hill is already well underway, with works progressing at all six station sites and the train stabling facility. Tunnel boring machines will arrive on site later this year, with tunnelling scheduled to begin in 2026. The project timeline anticipates trains will be operational by 2035.
Minister for Suburban Rail Loop Harriet Shing described the project as “Australia’s largest housing project,” emphasising that “local feedback will be really important in building and shaping these growing neighbourhoods.”
She added, “Construction of SRL East is powering ahead with works underway at every station site and tunnelling to start next year – and we’re doing the important work now to ensure more homes and housing choice is delivered on the doorstep of this world-class public transport.”
Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny reinforced the project’s vision, stating, “Suburban Rail Loop is building more homes where people want to live – next to world-class public transport, jobs and services.”
The structure planning process is expected to be finalised next year, following this crucial period of public consultation.
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