Planning rules for neighbourhoods around the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East stations have been finalised, streamlining approvals for thousands more homes around SRL East stations over the next 15 years.
Following several years of extensive community consultation, final structure plans and planning scheme amendments have been approved for Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill.
The new rules will ensure the areas around the stations remain vibrant, thriving neighbourhoods for generations to come, while enabling more people to live close to world-class transport, jobs and services.
More than 10,000 responses and submissions have been received over several years of consultation throughout the planning process, followed by 3 months of public hearings into the draft structure plans by an independent Standing Advisory Committee in 2025, which prepared a report for the Minister for Planning.
Changes in the final plan include:
The new rules will streamline planning applications, and give developers and the community certainty about the scale and type of future development expected in local areas.
Implementation plans will outline how the State Government, local Councils and a range of government departments and agencies will work together to fund and deliver community facilities to meet the needs of growing communities, including libraries, kindergartens, medical clinics and sports facilities.
Construction of SRL East is well underway with works at all 6 station sites and the train stabling facility. Tunnelling will start this year and trains will be taking passengers in 2035.
The new stations will attract investment and business opportunities, bringing thousands of extra jobs to the local areas, providing more opportunity for people to work close to home.
Final structure plans and planning scheme amendments will be published by the Department of Transport and Planning once the plans have been formally adopted (gazetted), which is expected to be completed by mid-July.