Suburban Rail Loop will shape our city and state for future generations, ensuring Melbourne remains one of the world’s most liveable cities.

The 90-kilometre Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will link every major train service from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line, via Melbourne Airport, improving access to housing, jobs, schools, universities, and hospitals for all Victorians.

A stabling facility is required near the start of the line to allow SRL's fleet of new high-tech trains to begin services efficiently each day.

The dedicated stabling facility is a critical part of SRL East (Cheltenham to Box Hill). It would not be possible to provide high frequency 'turn-up-and-go' train services for passengers without it.

The stabling facility will house the operational control centre for the new railway line and is also where the train fleet will be stored and maintained when not in service.

What the stabling facility will look like

The layout and design will be subject to operational and technical requirements, and will be finalised by the future contractor.

Further, the stabling facility will be subject to an Urban Design and Landscape Plan that will be developed by the contractor.

These plans will be shared with the community to obtain feedback ahead of finalising the design.

Landscaping and vegetation will be planted around the stabling facility boundary inline with the landscaping show on the SRL East Surface and Tunnel Plans, that have been endorsed by the Minister for Planning. This will ensure parkland is maintained and improved, and act as a soft screening, reducing the visual impact of the facility for surrounding properties.

Key features of the stabling facility will include:

• Stabling yard to initially house 13 trains and up to 30 trains as passenger demand grows
• A track for testing trains before they go into operation
• A train maintenance facility for inspections, repairs and major train and wheel maintenance
• An office and operational control centre
• A power supply substation
• An eastern and western portal for train entry and exit through the SRL East tunnels
• Water storage and treatment ponds to manage overland flows.

From 2022

• Initial and Early Works in Heatherton

From 2025

• Tunnelling works commence at Heatherton

From 2026

• Construction of train stabling facility commences

By 2035

• SRL East taking passengers

Your questions answered:

Has the location of the stabling facility been confirmed?

Yes, the stabling facility was approved by the Minister for Planning in 2022, and will be built at 91-185 Kingston Road, Heatherton.

The stabling facility location was selected following a robust and comprehensive Environment Effects Statement (EES) released in late 2021.

What will construction involve at Heatherton?

Construction will be staged to reduce impacts on the local area. Works to build the train stabling facility will involve:

• Removing existing buildings
• Ground improvement works
• Building structures, portals and the rail track
• Installing the power substation and electrical equipment
• Tunnelling including support activities such as soil management.

We will keep the community updated ahead of works occurring.

How will the project manage impacts?

SRLA is committed to minimising and managing impacts as much as possible, however, we do anticipate some impacts during construction, including:

• Changed traffic conditions for drivers
• Changed travel conditions for cyclists and pedestrians
• Some noise, vibration and dust from construction activities, machinery and vehicles
• Removal of vegetation and trees, where required
• Short-term impacts to driveway access and on-street car parking.

Before works start, we will notify and engage with residents and businesses about activities planned in their area, including what to expect and how any disruptions will be managed.

Additionally, rail infrastructure for SRL East, including the stabling facility, was assessed through an EES.

Supported by a range of technical investigations and studies, the EES carefully considered potential impacts on people, structures, and the environment, including at and around the stabling facility at Heatherton.

To ensure that impacts are appropriately managed through construction and operation, and in response to the EES, SRLA has prepared an Environmental Management Framework (EMF).

The EMF includes over 100 Environmental Performance Requirements (EPR), which outline the minimum standard, or requirements that SRLA and our contractors need to achieve when building SRL.

The EPRs consider and address construction impacts on the local environment including noise, vibrations, air quality and ground movement.

The EMF also establishes a requirement for monitoring and auditing.

How will traffic in the area be managed safely during construction?

Keeping the road network moving during construction will involve site-specific management plans to minimise impacts. Further, as an outcome of the EES, a traffic assessment has been undertaken to understand where improvements can be made to Kingston Road to improve safety during construction.

As part of this assessment, the project has identified opportunities such as:

• A signalised pedestrian crossing on Kingston Road, improving safety for pedestrians and better ability to turn onto Kingston Road for nearby local roads
• A u-turn facility for southbound traffic exiting Dingley Bypass to turn right onto Kingston Road.

Contractors will work with SRLA, local councils, the Department of Transport and Planning, and the local community to safely manage traffic during construction.

Will SRLA offer a Voluntary Purchase Scheme?

Yes, a Voluntary Purchase Scheme for SRL East is available as a last resort for residents who may be subject to significant accumulated construction impacts in identified areas which meet relevant criteria.

When will SRLA permanently close Old Dandenong Road?

The stabling facility will require the permanent closure of Old Dandenong Road between Kingston Road and Henry Street, along with modifications to the intersection of Old Dandenong Road and Kingston Road.

The closure of Old Dandenong Road is planned to occur from mid-late 2024. We are working through construction timelines and will advise community and stakeholders of more detailed timing when we have a firm date.

How will public open space be considered during construction and operation?

We understand that public open space is very important to the local community in Heatherton, Clarinda and surrounds. SRLA is committed to ensuring local communities have access to quality public open space and can continue to enjoy exercise, play and social experiences among nature and greenery.

SRLA and the SRL East Public Open Space Advisory Panel are working closely with Kingston City Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action to identify suitable alternative sites for open space to replace the future planned open space at the stabling site. This may involve several smaller sites rather than one large single site. New replacement public space will open for community use before the stabling facility becomes operational in 2035.

The project will also enhance existing landscape buffers around the stabling facility to soften visual impacts and use plant species to enhance biodiversity and habitat, including exploring opportunities for additional planting within Kingston Walk Linear Reserve and Henry Street Linear Reserve.

Finally, as part of SRLA's Tree Canopy Replacement Plan, we are committed to doubling the canopy impacted by the project. Tree planting will occur before the stabling facility becomes operational. This will allow time for trees to mature and grow to provide soft screening around the stabling facility.

How will spoil be managed at the site during construction?

Spoil Management Plans (SMPs) will be developed by SRLA’s construction contractors.

The SMPs will include details such as how spoil will be managed and the locations at which appropriately classified spoil will be disposed.

Once developed, the contractor SMPs will be reviewed by Environment Protection Authority Victoria and verified by the SRL East Independent Environmental Auditor.

How is SRLA engaging with the local community?

We are committed to ongoing consultation and engagement with the local community. Since the project commenced we have engaged through:

• Local community information sessions
• Inviting EES submissions
• Online feedback surveys
• Pop-up events and local markets
• Regular contact via our dedicated contact centre and project email
• Notifying the community of upcoming works and disruptions.

There will also be future opportunities for the community to have their say, including consultations on the stabling facility design and landscaping, Henry Street Linear Reserve, Kingston Walk Linear Reserve, local roads, and walking and cycling improvements.

In 2023, we also established a Heatherton Community Reference Group (CRG).

The CRG allows for local community groups, businesses and residents to work directly with the project team to discuss project matters, raise and resolve project issues and provide a local community perspective to construction planning and design.