Suburban Rail Loop Project - Sir William Fry Reserve (Stage 2)

Kingston Council undertook Stage 1 consultation in August 2021 to seek the community's views. That input was used to help develop Council's Design Advocacy Document. Stage 2 consultation seeks community feedback on those designs.

Background

The Victorian Government’s Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is coming to Kingston.

The SRL is a new 90-kilometre rail line that will connect Melbourne’s metropolitan train lines from the Frankston Line in the east to the Werribee Line in the west. The first stage of the SRL program is the south-east segment from Cheltenham to Box Hill.

It includes a proposed new station at Sir William Fry Reserve in Highett.

What is Council’s role?
Council is not responsible for planning this project or its delivery, however we are speaking up on behalf of our community to make sure we get the best outcomes for Kingston. Earlier this year, we asked our community what outcomes they would like to see as part of the Victorian Government's project. We have used that community input to help develop an alternative design for the Cheltenham SRL Station Precinct.

What do we want your feedback on?
We are currently seeking community feedback on Kingston Council's alternative design ideas for the Suburban Rail Loop at Sir William Fry Reserve and Southland precinct. You can view the ideas in Council's draft 'Design Advocacy Document' in the Document Library. A summary document is coming soon!

What will we do with your feedback?
Your feedback will be used to help finalise Council’s 'Design Advocacy Document' that will form part of our formal submission to the Victorian Government’s Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process. 

As with many large infrastructure projects, the SRL project is required to be assessed by the Victorian Government through an Environmental Effects Statement (EES) process. The EES assesses the potential environmental impacts or effects associated with Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop, what can be done to reduce any potential environmental impacts and include a framework for monitoring and measuring impacts during project delivery.

The EES is currently on exhibition.

You can get involved by making a submission.  Submissions relating to the EES can be made to Planning Panels Victoria using the Engage Victoria submissions page until 11.59pm on 16 December 2021.

For questions about the Suburban Rail Loop East Project, EES documentation and accessibility requirements please contact:

Organisation: Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA)
Phone: 1800 105 105
Email: contact@srla.vic.gov.au

What has the Suburban Rail Loop project proposed for the site?
Early concept plans released by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority include:

• Single SRL station entrance
• Bus stops along Bay Road accessible via U-Turn
• Pick up/ drop-off points & commercial passenger vehicle zone off Nepean Highway service road
• Disability Permit Parking and accessible pick up/ drop off provided off the service road
• North-south primary bicyle and pedestrian route along the railway line connecting to Southland metro station (within the extend of the project area only)
• A bicycle and pedestrian bridge across Bay Road
• East-west primary bicycle route along Bay Road (within the extent of the project area only)
• Sites subject to future precinct planning

What is Council proposing for the project?

Council has used community input to help develop alternative plans for the site that aim to get the best possible community outcome from the project.

Council's full Advocacy Design Document is available in the Document Library. A summary document is coming soon!

Briefly, Council's proposal includes:

• Additional SRL entries (3 total)
• A bus-capable 'loop road' through the Cheltenham SRL Station precinct and a new signalised intersection at Nepean Highway and Enright Street. Bus stops along Bay Road accessible via internal loop road.
• Pick up/drop off points & commercial passenger vehicle zone within the new loop road at the 'front door' of the station
• Disability permit parking & accessible pick up/drop off provided within the new loop road
• Extended north-south primary bicycle and pedestrian route along the railway line connecting to Southland metro station, Cheltenham and Highett Activity Centres
• A bicycle and pedestrian bridge across Bay Road
• East-west primary bicycle route along Bay Road
• Opportunity Development sites (including a regional community facility)
• New open space within the station precinct and integrated water management initiatives
• A new concept plan for Sir William Fry Reserve featuring a new skate park and active youth precinct, expanded playground, dog park, reshaped lake, new pathways, trees and large open green space
• Additional open space in the former Highett Gasworks site
• Better integration with Sir William Fry Reserve, the former Highett Gasworks precinct and Westfield Southland Shopping Centre

Council's full Advocacy Design Document is available in the Document Library. A summary document is coming soon!

Have your say

You can share your views by:

• Taking part in our online survey via the link below
• Making a further submission to strategic.planning@kingston.vic.gov.au
• Mailing PO Box 1000 Mentone or calling 1300 653 356.

The consultation is open until 5pm Tuesday 14 December.