1 February 2021
Virtual engagement room now open
There’s a new way to engage with Suburban Rail Loop and learn more about the project with the launch of our virtual engagement room.
Just as you would do at a face-to-face information session, visitors can explore information boards, read fact sheets, view videos and maps and sign up for project updates – all from the comfort and safety of their own home.
Visitors can ask questions of our project specialists to discover more about what Stage One of Suburban Rail Loop will mean for their area.
The platform will also enable people to submit feedback about the potential impacts of the project, including the design and construction considerations that are important to them. Information in the virtual room will continue to be updated as the project progresses.
Watch this space
Face-to-face community engagement for Suburban Rail Loop will be returning in 2021!
The community has an important part to play in the development and delivery of Suburban Rail Loop and it is our priority to consult widely, ensuring Victorians are informed of project updates and can have their say.
Due to COVID-19, engagement in 2020 was moved safely online. In 2021 in-person engagement will return, and we hope this will commence soon in line with appropriate health and safety measures and advice of Victoria’s Chief Medical Officer.
Our team will be out and about in the months ahead with opportunities for people along the Stage One corridor to talk directly to project staff. This will be via community ‘pop-ups’ at shopping centres, train stations and local events, and drop-in information sessions where we’ll share project information and answer your questions.
If you’d like to know when and where these will happen, we’d encourage you to sign up for our project updates or keep an eye on our website.
Interactive map and survey now closed
The Stage One Precincts engagement, via Engage Victoria, has now closed.
In June 2020, we launched an interactive online map and survey to gather your feedback about what makes the communities around the new stations special and what you would like to see happen in your local area in the future – and we’ve had a fantastic response.
Over more than 8 months the online tool received almost 40,000 views and more than 2100 contributions.
We’ll be reporting back to you soon with a comprehensive wrap up of your feedback to date, including some of your responses about wanting more green spaces, new walking and cycling paths, and improved connections between different public transport modes. Some of the things you really value in your local areas include access to services, education and jobs, and the retail and entertainment mix in some of these neighbourhoods.
Thank you to everyone who participated in this important round of engagement – it will help as we plan Suburban Rail Loop and how it can make these neighbourhoods even better places to live, work, study and visit.
PRG applications closed
Applications for Suburban Rail Loop Precinct Reference Groups (PRGs) have now closed.
Thank you to everyone who applied to become a member of one of the 6 PRGs. We will soon announce the local community representatives ahead of the first meetings getting underway soon.
The PRGs are another way that we’ll be able to get direct feedback from communities, residents and stakeholders about local priorities, values and ideas.
Train stabling site proposed for Suburban Rail Loop
The preferred location for a state-of-the-art train stabling facility for Suburban Rail Loop has been identified at Heatherton, bordered by Old Dandenong and Kingston roads.
Several sites were considered against a range of criteria including engineering design, the environment, minimising property acquisition and the safeguarding of existing agricultural land and local jobs, with the Old Dandenong Road location found to be the most suitable.
The stabling facility will be home to the high-tech fleet of Suburban Rail Loop trains – where they will be cleaned, maintained and stored when not in operation.
The proposed train stabling at Heatherton will be part of the Stage One Environment Effects Statement (EES).
Our upcoming face-to-face engagement will also provide further opportunities for you to provide feedback on the proposed train stabling facility. You can currently provide feedback on the Have your say page.
Environment Effects Statement process starts soon
As part of the planning for Suburban Rail Loop, we’re required to produce an Environment Effects Statement (EES) for the Stage One rail infrastructure. The EES is Victoria’s most robust planning and environmental assessment process.
The EES will carefully consider potential environmental impacts or effects associated with Stage One works including urban design, traffic and transport, business, social and land use impacts. The EES will also identify what can be done to avoid, mitigate or manage any potential impacts on people and the environment.
In addition to SRLA’s ongoing engagement with the community and stakeholders, the EES process will provide further opportunities for people to provide formal input.