Media response – Suburban Rail Loop (November 2022)

Published on 17 November 2022

Query from The Age

The question I have for you is about the planning changes that will apply to the 1.6km precincts around SRL stations.

What does the council know about these planning changes? What does it want or not want to see here?  For example, will there be significant changes to high limits?

Response

The Suburban Rail Loop will be a gamechanger for Monash’s connection to the rest of Melbourne, and this transformational project has the support of Council.

However, the likely transfer of planning authority powers from Council to the Suburban Rail Loop Authority for precinct planning within a 1.6km radius around SRL stations is concerning.

Given the size of those proposed station precinct areas and the absence of clarity, we have serious concerns about the potential impacts on our local neighbourhoods. We continue to seek clarity from the SRLA on the likely extent of these precincts in Monash and how Council and residents will be able to provide input. The detail about how it will happen is lacking at this point.

Local input on these decisions is crucial, particularly as the SRLA is primarily set up to deliver the rail loop itself. For example, the Glen Waverley community has clearly told us they’re supportive of the project but share Council’s design concerns of the current proposal, including on issues of carparking, road closures and better connecting the new and existing stations, such as at Glen Waverley, where benefits for the activity centre could be significant and well beyond what we believe is a very limited consideration.

The Suburban Rail Loop is a generational project that will transform our suburbs. We should build it, and build it right.

Issued: 17 November 2022

To: The Age

Quoting: Mayor Tina Samardzija