Caulfield Station should be rebuilt as sky rail, Glen Eira councillor says

THERE’S an ambitious new plan to turn a busy station in Melbourne’s south into a sky rail — but could the bold idea really help a struggling shopping strip survive?

JUST when you thought the sky rail project was nearing completion in Melbourne, an ambitious new plan has been flagged for yet another suburb — and it could help a struggling shopping strip survive.

The bold plan to transform Caulfield Station into a sky rail precinct and ban trams from a connecting road could breathe life into a neglected shopping strip nearby.

Glen Eira councillor Joel Silver wants to rip up the “dangerous” S-bend tram line under the Smith St bridge, close Sir John Monash Drive to trams, and elevate the station precinct to refresh the Derby Rd strip.

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Under his plan, trams would continue down Normanby Rd, past the current turn, and turn left under the new station, to open up opportunities for an activity hub on Derby Rd, similar to Lygon St near Melbourne University.

Cr Silver said the station was a “Berlin Wall” dividing Caulfield Racecourse and Monash University, and people were avoiding the area as a result.

“We’ve neglected this area and people don’t stay around because there’s nothing really to keep them here,” Cr Silver said.

“This has no real nice restaurants and nothing is open at night. It’s an area we need to unlock and make it appealing not just for residents but students.”

There’s fresh calls for the Caulfield Station precinct to be overhauled. Picture: Valeriu Campan

No plans or costings have been drawn up, but the Victorian Planning Authority is currently working on a structure plan for the precinct.

Cr Silver said it was the perfect place for sky rail, because residents didn’t live too close and wouldn’t be impacted by the imposing structures.

“The Andrews government is in favour of rejuvenating the area but we can’t just give it a lick of paint,” he said.

“The station is full of life and traders are working damn hard, but people are just going home because we’re not giving them what they want.

“It’s time for both parties to put money on the table to replace the station and fix Derby Rd”.

The station is the second busiest outside the city loop, with more than 13,000 commuters using it every day and numbers expected to increase significantly after the Melbourne Metro Tunnel is finished in 2025 and it becomes an interchange for the Frankston, Pakenham and Cranbourne lines.

A Glen Eira councillor is calling on Caulfield Station to be elevated and Sir John Monash Drive to be closed to trams to make way for more night-life on the quiet strip. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The VPA, along with Glen Eira and Stonnington councils, DELWP and Transport for Victoria, received more than 335 survey responses when calling for feedback on the precinct in June.

Most people agreed there was a need for improved streetscape and better access between the train line and racecourse, but there was a mixed response about whether it should be turned into a day and night hub or whether development should halt.

Caulfield Liberal MP David Southwick said an integrated plan was needed for the precinct, but did not commit to any funding or confirm whether he was supportive of a sky rail plan.

“Due to growing population … demand for transport services at Caulfield Station has never been higher and this precinct must evolve to remain accessible and efficient for all users,” he said.

Planning Minister Richard Wynne did not respond to Leader’s request for comment.

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