Glen Waverley car park summary consultation report

12 July 2024

The Glen Waverley car park summary consultation report was prepared to the satisfaction of the Minister for Planning under Clause 52.20 of the Monash Planning Scheme. The Minister for Planning approved the Glen Waverley Car Park on 12 June 2024.

The summary consultation report outlines what the community told us about the Glen Waverley car park design and any site-specific measures to mitigate potential impacts from its construction. Below is a summary of the report.

Introduction

Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) will transform our 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 six underground stations, opening up access to health, education and employment destinations across Melbourne’s east and south east.

The new underground SRL East station at Glen Waverley will be one of the most well-connected stations on the metropolitan network - connecting more people to the heart of the vibrant shopping and hospitality district as well as adjacent suburbs.

The station will be located in the heart of Glen Waverley with a single station entrance orientated towards Coleman Parade and the existing rail station.

A new car park for Glen Waverley

Construction and operation of SRL East at Glen Waverley requires the removal of around 400 existing car parking spaces from the Glen Waverley Activity Centre, including at Glendale Street and other on-street parking.

To replace these spaces, we’re building a new permanent multi-level car park at the corner of Railway Parade North and Euneva Avenue, on land currently used as at-grade (street level) parking.

We understand the importance of parking to the Glen Waverley Activity Centre and the new car park is located within convenient walking distance to Kingsway to provide continued support for traders and visitors during construction and operation of SRL East.

Planning and environmental assessment

The Minister for Planning determined the new Glen Waverley car park could be considered under the Clause 52.30 – State Projects planning provision. This assessment process includes consideration of potential environmental and amenity impacts and a range of requirements that must be met before construction can commence.

Community and stakeholder consultation on the new car park is an important part of the assessment process. In 2023, Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) engaged with stakeholders, including Monash City Council, and the local community about the new car park and associated impacts, to gather feedback for input into the planning and development of the project.

Feedback during consultation was included in a consultation report as part of the Clause 52.30 planning application which informed the Minister for Planning’s assessment of the project. The new Glen Waverley car park has now been approved.

This report provides a summary of activities undertaken and feedback received during a targeted community consultation program in late 2023.

Stakeholder Engagement

Targeted consultation was undertaken with Monash City Council, VicTrack, and other key stakeholders with an interest in the new Glen Waverley car park. We met with these stakeholders to provide information and updates about the new car park throughout 2023, with the majority of engagement occurring between July and December. Key stakeholders were invited to provide feedback through a letter submission.

Location of the new Glen Waverley car park at the corner of Railway Parade North and Euneva Avenue. Car park entrance and exit on Railway Parade North.

Have your say - a new car park for Glen Waverley

From 20 November to 19 December 2023, we collected feedback from the community about the new car park. Community consultation targeted residential owners and occupiers, including absentee owners, and businesses near the site of the new car park. We asked for feedback on construction impacts, planning and environmental matters and car park design. Community feedback was collected via an online survey on Engage Victoria.

To support this engagement, we provided information on the new car park consultation via:

Letters sent to residential owners and occupiers and businesses in the vicinity of the new car park
Door knocks of surrounding residents and businesses
Fact sheet about the new car park
Fact sheet summarising how potential impacts of the new car park will be managed
Distribution of materials to the Glen Waverley SRL Precinct Reference Group, including representatives from Glen Waverley Traders Association and community members
Information, including the Engage Victoria survey, was provided in English, Simplified and Traditional Chinese.

Community engagement snapshot

11 Engage Victoria survey responses
68 registered letters delivered
44 residents and businesses door knocked

What we heard - Community feedback

We’d like to thank the community for providing their feedback to help inform the final design of the new car park and to develop site-specific measures to mitigate potential impacts from its construction.

Community survey responses

Following is a summary of responses to the Engage Victoria survey questions where respondents were asked to select from existing options.

Respondents interest in the new car park

Key issues relating to construction of the new car park

Access to where people shop, impacts to travel routes and temporary or permanent changes to roads were the most common issues from respondents about construction of the new car park
Participants who responded 'other' noted a potential increase in the use of cars in Glen Waverley and asked about the car park's location and amenity.

Options	Number of Submissions
Dust/air quality during works	1
Changes of loss of car parking spaces during construction	1
Business impacts	1
Access to where I work/study	1
Noise and vibration during works	2
Temporary or permanent changes to roads	3
Impacts along my travel route/s	3
Access to where I shop	3
Other (please specify)	5

Most effective mitigation measures to reduce construction impacts

Management of traffic and transport disruptions was the most popular measure to mitigate construction impacts
Communication methods, accessibility and timeframes and maintaining and managing access to homes and businesses during construction were also identified as effective measures to reduce construction impacts.

Options	number of submissions
Other (please specify)	2
Noise and vibration management	2
Maintaining access to homes, businesses and educational facilities during construction	2
Construction work hours	2
Car parking removal management	2
Maintaining and managing access during construction works	3
Communication methods, accessibility or timeframes	3
Traffic and transport disruption management	4

Most important planning and environmental matters in considering the new car park

Traffic and transport and flora and fauna were the most important planning and environmental matters identified
Respondents provided additional feedback related to safety, car park navigation, local amenity and sustainability.

Options	Number of submissions
Construction impacts (e.g. dust from construction works)	1
Approvals process (planning and environmental approvals)	1
Noise and vibration	2
Business impacts (potential impacts on local businesses)	2
Local amenity (e.g. amenity impacts from the new car park)	3
Sustainability initiatives	4
Design (e.g. design of the car park)	4
Traffic and transport	5
Flora and fauna (e.g. removal of trees or vegetation)	5

Key feedback themes

Following is a summary of key feedback themes identified in the open text responses to the Engage Victoria survey. Feedback not directly related to the car park design or construction was collated and will inform future considerations, as relevant.

Traffic and transport management

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: They were concerned about increased car use and traffic congestion in Glen Waverley from construction of the new car park They were concerned about impacts to travel routes during construction.	A transport assessment has been prepared to determine the anticipated traffic, transport and car parking impacts associated with the new car park. Traffic analysis indicates the new car park will not result in any significant impacts to traffic performance in the Glen Waverley Activity Centre Any temporary changes to traffic conditions to facilitate safe construction of the car park will be managed under a Traffic Management Plan and communicated to nearby residents and businesses ahead of time.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

They were concerned about increased car use and traffic congestion in Glen Waverley from construction of the new car park
They were concerned about impacts to travel routes during construction.

A transport assessment has been prepared to determine the anticipated traffic, transport and car parking impacts associated with the new car park. Traffic analysis indicates the new car park will not result in any significant impacts to traffic performance in the Glen Waverley Activity Centre
Any temporary changes to traffic conditions to facilitate safe construction of the car park will be managed under a Traffic Management Plan and communicated to nearby residents and businesses ahead of time.

Flora and Fauna

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: They want to protect and maintain the current vegetation in the area They would like to see more vegetation integrated into the final design.	Removal of trees and vegetation is required to enable safe construction of the car park Prior to any tree removal, the area will be checked for animals that may reside in the trees by a licenced ecologist and relocated if required We will replant trees in consultation with Monash City Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action Planting and native vegetation has been incorporated into the design of the new car park to soften the perimeter and provide shade at ground level.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

They want to protect and maintain the current vegetation in the area
They would like to see more vegetation integrated into the final design.

Removal of trees and vegetation is required to enable safe construction of the car park
Prior to any tree removal, the area will be checked for animals that may reside in the trees by a licenced ecologist and relocated if required
We will replant trees in consultation with Monash City Council and the Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action
Planting and native vegetation has been incorporated into the design of the new car park to soften the perimeter and provide shade at ground level.

Communication methods

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: They want clear, transparent and timely messaging about works and associated impacts They want night works, extended hours works or weekend works to be effectively managed.	We will prepare and implement site-specific communication and engagement plans, including engaging with nearby residents and businesses about upcoming works, what to expect and how any disruptions will be managed We propose to undertake most of the works during normal day-time working hours. If works need to occur outside of normal working hours, this will be communicated with residents and businesses ahead of time.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

They want clear, transparent and timely messaging about works and associated impacts
They want night works, extended hours works or weekend works to be effectively managed.

We will prepare and implement site-specific communication and engagement plans, including engaging with nearby residents and businesses about upcoming works, what to expect and how any disruptions will be managed
We propose to undertake most of the works during normal day-time working hours. If works need to occur outside of normal working hours, this will be communicated with residents and businesses ahead of time.

Business impacts

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: They want access to businesses maintained, including car parking for customers or clients They are concerned the car park may direct pedestrian traffic away from nearby businesses.	We will implement measures to ensure the community and businesses are not unnecessarily impacted by works and keep local businesses informed about works in their area The SRL East Business Support Guidelines provide a framework to address impacts to businesses based on best practice and lessons learnt from other projects A Traffic Management Plan will be prepared and implemented to ensure any traffic disruptions are managed We will support businesses and residents to ensure people can continue to live, work, study and shop in their local community.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

They want access to businesses maintained, including car parking for customers or clients
They are concerned the car park may direct pedestrian traffic away from nearby businesses.

We will implement measures to ensure the community and businesses are not unnecessarily impacted by works and keep local businesses informed about works in their area
The SRL East Business Support Guidelines provide a framework to address impacts to businesses based on best practice and lessons learnt from other projects
A Traffic Management Plan will be prepared and implemented to ensure any traffic disruptions are managed
We will support businesses and residents to ensure people can continue to live, work, study and shop in their local community.

Car park design

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: Respondents told us: The car park should be easy to use and navigate, including for pedestrians and cyclists They would like an emphasis on safety and accessibility in the design of the new car park They would like to see activated spaces, such as retail spaces and vegetation on the rooftop They would like the new car park to be affordable to ensure it is well used.	Safety of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians using the new car park is a priority. We will incorporate lighting and signage to safely guide users in and around the car park Street furniture and retail spaces will encourage activity around the car park at ground level. High volumes of foot traffic on Euneva Avenue and Railway Parade North will also enhance safety from pedestrian passive surveillance The car park will provide both short-term parking for visitors to the Glen Waverley Activity Centre and all-day parking for commuters to replace the existing spaces removed due to SRL East construction. It will also incorporate bicycle parking and retail space to allow more members of the community to use the space. Car parking will be free during the SRL East construction period, with future ownership and operation arrangements for the car park to be determined.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

Respondents told us:
The car park should be easy to use and navigate, including for pedestrians and cyclists
They would like an emphasis on safety and accessibility in the design of the new car park
They would like to see activated spaces, such as retail spaces and vegetation on the rooftop
They would like the new car park to be affordable to ensure it is well used.

Safety of vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians using the new car park is a priority. We will incorporate lighting and signage to safely guide users in and around the car park
Street furniture and retail spaces will encourage activity around the car park at ground level. High volumes of foot traffic on Euneva Avenue and Railway Parade North will also enhance safety from pedestrian passive surveillance
The car park will provide both short-term parking for visitors to the Glen Waverley Activity Centre and all-day parking for commuters to replace the existing spaces removed due to SRL East construction. It will also incorporate bicycle parking and retail space to allow more members of the community to use the space. Car parking will be free during the SRL East construction period, with future ownership and operation arrangements for the car park to be determined.

Sustainability

What we heard	SRLA response
Respondents told us: They value sustainability and encourage energy efficient design solutions.	We’ve incorporated high standards of Environmentally Sustainable Design in the car park’s energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, waste management and building materials The open façade design of the car park enables natural ventilation and light, as an alternative to using mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting Drought tolerant native plants will be planted to complement the existing landscape and provide additional shade from the sun.

What we heard

SRLA response

Respondents told us:

They value sustainability and encourage energy efficient design solutions.

We’ve incorporated high standards of Environmentally Sustainable Design in the car park’s energy efficiency, indoor environment quality, waste management and building materials
The open façade design of the car park enables natural ventilation and light, as an alternative to using mechanical ventilation and artificial lighting
Drought tolerant native plants will be planted to complement the existing landscape and provide additional shade from the sun.

Next Steps

All feedback provided as part of the Glen Waverley car park consultation was considered and incorporated into the Clause 52.30 planning submission, which was endorsed by the Minister for Planning on 12 June 2024.

Key issues summarised in this report will be managed through ongoing consultation with stakeholders and the community, and through the development and implementation of a range of management plans including traffic management plans and construction environmental management plans. We will continue engaging with the community and other key stakeholders during construction of the new car park, including to provide information about upcoming works, what to expect and how disruptions will be managed.

Thank you again to everyone who provided feedback to this important element of the transformational Suburban Rail Loop project in Glen Waverley.

Download file

SRL East Glen Waverley Car Park summary consultation report (PDF 4.0 MB)