Army of bureaucrats will decide what should be built within 1.6km of SRL stations
Dozens of planning and property experts are being hired by the Andrews government to oversee development of land near the $125bn Suburban Rail Loop.
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Dozens of planning and property experts are being hired by the state government to control development on vast tracts of land around the Suburban Rail Loop.
The new army of bureaucrats will decide what should be built within 1.6km of stations that are part of the new 90km loop around Melbourne, expected to cost $125 billion.
Planning for the first six station precincts, between Cheltenham and Box Hill, is about to step up a gear, with councils sidelined from decision-making in order to speed up the process and fast-track higher density housing including high rises in some areas.
The Suburban Rail Loop Authority and responsible minister – currently deputy premier Jacinta Allan – will have powers over planning matters within each precinct, with community consultation set to begin within months.
The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal a hiring blitz at the SRL Authority includes for up to 50 architects, urban designers and planners, with a team being assembled to guide the development of SRL “precinct structure plans”.
Those plans will effectively govern what could be built within about 1.6km of each of the six stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.
A set of principles for each precinct includes good surface connections to other modes of travel, leaving scope for business growth, and be consistent with “20-minute neighbourhoods”, which would allow for people to easily walk or cycle to services and amenities.
The Andrews Government is separately looking at overhauling the entire planning scheme for Victoria to further wrest control of planning from local government, and is preparing a new housing “statement” that will underpin the process from as early as next month.
It is likely precincts around other transport hubs — such as major rail stations — will be established, in a bid to drive more developments where existing services are.
A government spokesman promised a “massive program of consultation” as part of SRL precinct planning set to kick off this year, and confirmed that a dedicated team of specialists included urban designers, precinct and transport planners, architects and property specialists.
“We’ll be talking to local councils, stakeholder, residents and businesses every step of the way to ensure these neighbourhoods reflect local character, expectations and aspirations,” he said.
The Government has faced some criticism for its approach to the SRL by planning experts, who have warned that a funding black hole could impact how precincts are created due to the need to chase extra revenue.
Some parts of Box Hill already have high rises of up to 51 storeys built or approved, but the proposed station at Clayton is in an area populated by many single-storey dwellings.
Communities are set to be consulted about each precinct plan before they are ticked off, with the process likely to take years, and no height limit will be set ahead of consultation.
The first stage of the SRL is due to open in 2035.
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