Clayton Community Space is moving to two nearby locations to make way for safe construction of the new Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East station.

The new SRL East station at Clayton will become a transport super hub, connecting more people to Clayton’s vibrant town centre and providing faster and more convenient transport to destinations across Melbourne and the Gippsland region.

The Community Space under the elevated rail will be closed in early February 2025 to enable construction of the new SRL East station. The sports equipment and open space will move to two new sites by mid 2025: the corner of Haughton Road to the east of Clayton Road, and opposite the Clayton RSL just south of the viaduct. See map below.

To prepare for this relocation, we asked the Clayton community what they loved about the current space and to contribute ideas for the new one.

We heard that open space, walking and cycling connections and proximity to Clayton Station and Clayton Road activity centre were the most valued elements of the current space. The community most valued safety, accessibility and the exercise equipment and facilities when considering features of a new design.

We’ve designed the two spaces in line with these community preferences. The new sites are close to the existing site, within walking distance of one another and provide good connectivity to the Djerring Trail, Clayton activity centre and transport options in Clayton.

Features of the new Community Space

• A greater area of exercise-specific hard surfaces and soft-fall surfaces for exercise and play areas than the concrete surface in the existing community space
• Together the new sites offer the community larger open space at approximately 2700 square metres versus around 2250 square metres at the current site
• 66 trees are planned for the new spaces compared to 20 at the existing site
• The garden beds will be larger, around 980 square metres compared to 800 square metres at the existing site
• The seating areas adopt a similar design as the existing space, providing both intimate scale and open seating layouts
• The community told us the table tennis tables were not well used. We will install street workout equipment in the eastern parcel to replace it.

You can read a summary of all feedback received in the Engagement Report at Clayton Community Space engagement report.

Next steps

Construction of the new Community Space began in late 2024 and will be completed by mid 2025.

The Djerring Trail will be diverted throughout construction of the new SRL station with access maintained.

We know the Community Space is highly valued and well-utilised. We are committed to providing recreational open space for the Clayton community while we build SRL East.