MORE infrastructure needs to be built to support planned housing developments around Suburban Rail Loop train stations, Kingston Council says.
The state government has been exhibiting its “precinct” plans for the Suburban Rail Loop stations this year – public submissions closed last month. The state government plans to allow major housing projects to be built in the areas surrounding the railway stations.
Last week, Kingston mayor Georgina Oxley said that council had made a submission to the Suburban Rail Loop outlining serious concerns about the plans in Cheltenham and Clayton. She said that the planned infrastructure and services would not meet the needs of the growing population. “These draft precinct plans allow for significant development – at a level not seen in Kingston – but they do not provide a clear pathway for the delivery of vital services and infrastructure,” Oxley said. “While our Housing Strategy did identify growth in these areas, it was not this significant. We’re particularly concerned about the lack of funding commitments to plan and deliver new sporting facilities, schools/kindergartens, community facilities and bicycle paths that are essential before development comes.
“One of our primary concerns in 2025 is that new developments will be allowed without adequate car parking long before the new SRL station opens. We could face years where new developments with little-to-no car parking are allowed and being constructed without the SRL stations established and critical pedestrian and cycling infrastructure being built. Our local streets and communities simply cannot accommodate more demand for on street parking. We call on the Victorian Government to instead adopt a transitioned approach to allow decreasing parking gradually, to minimise the gap before the new station is up and running.
“We want to thank all community members who spoke up and made their voices heard. This is a major change for our neighbourhoods, and it’s vital that the community’s expectations around infrastructure, services and quality design are reflected in the final plans.”
Council’s submission read that the state government should fund a community hub/library and schools/kindergartens, and identify suitable land in the Green Wedge to build sporting fields. It also asked the state government to stagger new development rules, build bike paths and bus routes, construct an under-cover connection between the new SRL station and existing Southland Station, provide a clear plan to replace the parkland that will be lost at Sir William Fry Reserve, and implement planning controls to manage overshadowing on residential streets.
To view the SRL precinct plans visit bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/suburban-rail-loop/planning/srl-east-precinct-planning. To read council’s full submission visit kingston.vic.gov.au/srl-submission.
First published in the Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News – 21 May 2025