Introduction

Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will transform Melbourne’s public transport system and help deliver more homes where people want to live. Construction of SRL East is powering ahead, with trains taking passengers by 2035 – slashing travel times, easing congestion and creating thousands of local jobs.

SRL East from Cheltenham to Box Hill will deliver 6 underground stations, opening up access to health, education and employment destinations across Melbourne’s east and south east.

A Stabling Facility is being built in Heatherton to park, clean and maintain trains when they are not in operation. This is a critical part of SRL East - it would not be possible to provide a high frequency ‘turn-up-and-go’ service for passengers without it.

The project has identified an alternative way to construct the twin tunnels between Cheltenham and Glen Waverley moving significant construction activities from the Stabling Facility in Heatherton, further away from homes, resulting in less surface disruptions and reduced impacts to local residents.

The alternative approach will also better protect the South Eastern Trunk Sewer (SETS), a major sewer asset which supports the population of east and south east Melbourne.

Tunnel Boring Machines (TBM) that construct the tunnels are now planned to be launched from the Alex Fraser Group Materials Recycling Facility and Transfer Station (the Facility) located on Kingston Road, Clarinda.

Some parts of the Facility will need to be temporarily reconfigured to ensure operations can continue while SRL East construction is underway on the site.

Clarinda Materials Recycling Facility reconfiguration

The Facility processes about 700,000 tonnes of waste concrete, masonry, asphalt and glass sands into sustainable construction material to build greener roads each year. The existing planning permit did not allow for the proposed reconfiguration to occur.

The Minister for Planning has now approved a planning scheme amendment (PSA) to enable the temporary reconfiguration. An incorporated document is now in effect and contains conditions similar to the previous planning permit, including requirements to mitigate impacts to neighbours and the community while the facility continues to operate.

The PSA enables Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) to temporarily occupy the south west corner of the Facility for around 5 years for construction and allow short term access to the north east corner to construct cross passages between the underground rail tunnels.

Engagement approach

Stakeholder engagement

Consultation was undertaken from September 2023 to June 2024 with Department of Transport and Planning (DTP), Kingston City Council, Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria, Alex Fraser Group, Christway College and other stakeholders with an interest in the PSA related to the Facility reconfiguration. Stakeholders were invited to provide feedback through a formal letter submission.

Community engagement

From 31 May 2024 to 30 June 2024, we collected feedback from the community through the Engage Victoria website.

We asked for feedback from the community on what the Minister for Planning should consider when assessing the PSA, the site reconfiguration and associated planning documentation.

To support this engagement we:

• Distributed 795 letters to local residents and businesses, including to absentee owners
• Doorknocked local residents and traders – Briefed and sent letters to stakeholders including Green Wedges Coalition, Kingston City Council, Charter Hall, Christway College, EPA Victoria, Melbourne Water, DTP, Southern Rural Water and Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
• Provided a fact sheet detailing the change in tunnelling approach and how the SRL East project intends to use the Facility
• Included an update in the June SRL East Heatherton works notification that was distributed to more than 1600 properties in the local area
• Briefed the Heatherton Community Reference Group.

What we heard

We’d like to thank the community for providing their feedback.

Following is a summary of feedback from the Engage Victoria survey and community submissions.

Feedback not directly related to the PSA, reconfiguration or documentation was considered to be outside the scope of this consultation. Any relevant out of scope submissions have been passed onto the Project Team to consider for future works.

Note: Respondents could select more than 1 option in the relationship to Clarinda survey question.

Feedback on the draft documents

Stage 2 site layout  - what we heard

• They were concerned about the accuracy of exhibited documentation, in particular the inclusion of the public tipping area
• They were concerned about potential community impacts, including to Victory Road Park and Victory Road site access.

SRLA Response

• The Facility currently provides a public tipping area. This will be moved north during the reconfiguration
• The existing planning permit restricts access from Victory Road to emergency and maintenance vehicles only. These access restrictions will remain in place.

Stage 3 site layout plan - what we heard

• They were concerned the Stage 3 site layout plan does not mitigate short or medium term impacts as only 1 retention pond will be reinstated and it will take time for vegetation to re-establish to the level of existing screening.

SRLA response

• The planting of understorey and canopy trees will be done at the most advanced stage of maturity possible. This will consider growing conditions to maximise trees’ ability to thrive and provide adequate screening
• There may be short-term visual impacts whilst planting is established
• One of the ponds must be filled to protect the tunnel infrastructure. The reinstatement of the second pond within the site will be sufficient for Alex Fraser group to maintain dust suppression mitigations
• The Stage 3 Site Management and Environmental Improvement Plan (SMEIP) was developed and approved to demonstrate how these impacts will be managed.

Incorporated Documents - what we heard

• They would like dates of when activities will start and end
• They would like Alex Fraser Group’s permit expiry date included
• They were concerned about how tunnelling and existing works would be mitigated and screened without vegetation and water ponds. They requested this to be addressed in the document
• They wanted the document to include how it would be enforced
• They were concerned works would run past the dates within the document.

SRLA response

• The documentation states SRLA will occupy the south west of the Facility for approximately five years for construction and 9 months for short term access to the north east for cross passage construction
• The Incorporated Document has been updated to include the cessation date of 5 December 2033, consistent with Planning Permit KP-2007/881
• A 2.5 metre high fence will be built to minimise visual impact to the community
• Dust suppression will be managed through use of the water pond
• Offsite environmental and amenity impacts will be managed through existing controls set out in the SMEIP prepared in consultation with EPA Victoria, Kingston City Council and Southern Rural Water
• Kingston City Council will remain the Responsible Authority
• SRL East tunnelling works need to be completed in time to allow for the fit out of the tunnels and station construction. In the unlikely event works are delayed reconfigured operations will be required to comply with approval requirements under the Incorporated Document
• Impacts from SRL East works will be managed through existing Project approvals including the Environmental Management Framework (EMF) and Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs).

Other feedback - what we heard

• They were concerned existing mitigation measures will not continue under the new documentation
• They were concerned the documents did not explain how impacts would be mitigated to the current extent
• They were concerned the site will be used to dispose of toxic waste
• They were concerned the PSA will remove elements that mitigate Alex Fraser’s current operations. Some asked for SRLA to abandon their plans or require Alex Fraser Group to cease operations during the SRL East works
• They were concerned about ongoing access to Victory Road Park and Victory Road.

SRLA response

• The conditions in the Incorporated Document are generally consistent with the existing planning permit
• The SMEIP must be reviewed every 3 years to demonstrate how it complies with conditions in the Incorporated Document
• The SMEIP must be reviewed if there are significant changes to site operations
• The removal of vegetation and waterbodies is temporary and will be reinstated at Stage 3 when SRL East works are complete
• A 2.5 metre high fence will be built to minimise visual impact to the community
• Landscaping will be progressively reinstated along the boundary as per the Stage 2 and 3 landscape concept plans
• There will be minimal changes to dust management. The remaining water pond and/or an alternative water source will be used to mitigate dust, including dousing of trucks and use of water carts
• There is no risk from silica dust. EPA has confirmed air quality impacts can be appropriately managed through the requirements in the Incorporated Document
• The Facility does not currently receive hazardous waste. The PSA will not change what materials can be accepted
• The existing planning permit restricts access from Victory Road to emergency and maintenance vehicles only. These access restrictions will remain in place
• The use of the land for SRL East works will be subject to the SRL East EMF and EPRs.

Feedback on what the Minister should consider for the reconfiguration

Air quality - what we heard

• They were concerned about impacts to air quality due to the site operations
• They were concerned about the potential increase in dust and dust contaminants.

SRLA response

• There will be minimal change to the operation of dust generating activities from the Facility reconfiguration
• The existing dust management controls will be maintained. It is unlikely there will be a noticeable increase in dust levels in the surrounding area
• Dust monitoring will be required by the Incorporated Document and the SMEIP
• EPA Victoria has confirmed air quality can be adequately managed through existing controls.

Noise - what we heard

• They were concerned about noise impacts to residents and livestock – They were particularly concerned about noise levels at night.

SRLA response

• The reconfiguration does not result in a change to the location of high impact activity within the Facility
• Operating hours of the facility are restricted by the existing planning permit and will not change
• Noise will continue to be monitored on the site in line with the existing permit requirements
• EPA Victoria has confirmed additional noise mitigations are not required.

Construction impacts - what we heard

• They were concerned about vibration impacts to residents and livestock in the area.

SRLA response

• Current operations at the Facility do not generate vibration that impacts residents or livestock in the area. The site reconfiguration will not change the current operating conditions or impact management requirements
• Any vibration impacts from SRL East tunnelling works will be managed through the SRL East EMF and EPRs.

Traffic - what we heard

• They were concerned about truck movements in and out of the Facility, including the impact to Christway College
• They were concerned about increased truck movements in the area
• They were concerned about increased dust and mud from construction traffic.

SRLA response

• The reconfiguration will not change the existing access to the site via Kingston Road or the number of truck movements related to the operation of the Facility
• A traffic impact assessment found the proposed reconfiguration is not expected to cause any significant traffic impacts. This includes generating extra traffic that would impact Kingston Road or Christway College
• Environmental management requirements to manage dust and mud from construction traffic will not change as a result of the reconfiguration
• EPA Victoria has confirmed dust and mud can be adequately managed through existing controls
• Any traffic impacts from SRL East works will be managed through the SRL East EMF and EPRs

Visual impacts - what we heard

• They were concerned about the removal of landscaped buffers.

SRLA response

• Where possible, the existing bunds will be retained – Acoustic screening is proposed to mitigate noise, dust and amenity impacts from the partial removal of the eastern bund
• A buffer is a requirement of the SMEIP and must be delivered as part of reconfiguration works.

Ecology and trees - what we heard

• They were concerned about the removal of trees and vegetation impacting amenity
• They were concerned that replanting of vegetation will not adequately mitigate impacts at the site
• They were concerned about the impact to wildlife, in particular robins, fairy wrens and the rare spotted pardalote (pardalotus panctatus).

SRLA response

• Tree and vegetation removal has been minimised where possible to reduce the impact on the existing area
• A screening fence will be built to reduce potential amenity impacts from tree and vegetation removal
• Once works are complete, the area will be replanted and rehabilitated to match existing conditions
• Extensive investigations were conducted to identify wildlife in the area. No State or Commonwealth listed threatened ecological species were found on the site and any vegetation removal is unlikely to impact birdlife that visit the Facility.

Safety -  what we heard

• They were concerned about the safety of Christway College students, staff and parents.

SRLA response

• Changes will be limited to internal road realignment and works within the site
• Ongoing engagement will continue with Christway College throughout the use of the Facility for SRL East construction
• The current level of safety for school students, staff and parents will be maintained.

Alex Fraser operations and permit conditions - what we heard

• They were concerned the existing permit conditions will change or no longer be required
• They were concerned operations will be moved closer to homes
• They felt existing permit conditions are ineffective
• They were concerned the site could be used to dispose of illegal materials or waste.

SRLA response

• There is no change to the existing permit conditions as a result of the reconfiguration. This includes operations, impacts and environmental management requirements
• The reconfiguration does not result in a change to the location of high impact activity within the site
• EPA Victoria and Kingston City Council support the continued operation of the Facility. Current operations comply with all relevant permit requirements
• The Facility does not accept illegal materials or waste. The reconfiguration will not change this.

Other feedback - what we heard

• They were concerned about the removal of water ponds at the Facility
• They were concerned about impacts to residential and business amenity
• They were concerned about impacts to Christway College operations
• They were unsure who the Responsible Authority would be now the site is being used for SRL East construction.

SRLA response

• The Facility will be able to meet dust management requirements with the remaining water pond, including dousing trucks and filling water carts. An alternative water source may be used if required
• Operations at the site will continue in line with the existing permit conditions and will not be impacted by the reconfiguration. Mitigations related to amenity for residents, businesses and Christway College will be maintained. It is not expected additional impacts will occur
• The Minister for Planning is responsible for the approval of the PSA. Kingston City Council remains the Responsible Authority for administering and enforcing the provisions of the Kingston Planning Scheme related to the site.

Next steps

All feedback provided as part of the Clarinda Materials Recycling Facility reconfiguration PSA consultation was considered and incorporated into the submission to the Minister for Planning. The PSA was gazetted on 20 September 2024.

The issues summarised in this report have been addressed through amendments to the exhibited Incorporated Document, SMEIP and Landscape Plans.

We will continue engaging with the community and stakeholders during the reconfiguration and SRL East works at the Facility, including providing information about upcoming works, what to expect and how disruptions will be managed.

Thank you again to everyone who provided feedback on this important part of the transformational SRL East project.