Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is already helping communities in Melbourne’s east and south east, offering a new round of funding for community projects along the SRL East corridor from Cheltenham to Box Hill.
The SRL Community Projects Fund (CPF) is helping neighbourhoods to thrive and community groups, schools and not-for-profit organisations to deliver exciting local initiatives well before trains are running in 2035.
Applications are now open, with grants from $10,000 to $80,000 now available for projects close to our 6 new stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood, Box Hill, and other SRL East facilities.
The first round of grants from CPF supported the delivery of nearly 80 projects, including 31 sporting clubs and 11 schools and tertiary institutions.
“We used the money to buy tools for our community garden, bring in more volunteers, and grow produce for the local food bank,“ said Cheryl Webster of Burwood Neighbourhood House. “We also bought plants and pots to enhance the facade of the house.
“It’s wonderful to have a common sense of purpose, and to see the community turn out, make friends, and help their vulnerable neighbours.”
Community programs to support local events, health and wellbeing initiatives, arts and culture, creative spaces, sporting facilities and equipment, and community gardens are important components of thriving neighbourhoods.
The Fund has already helped 11 Neighbourhood House and Mens Shed projects, including Monash Mens Shed, which runs activities and learning programs twice a week.
“Our programs are for men who may be isolated, experiencing loneliness, or looking to learn new skills,” said treasurer Greg Male.
“We even doubled the number coming to our health events from an average of 30 to more than 60 attendees. We know that men often try to manage health concerns by themselves, which leads to poorer outcomes, so this turnout was great to see.”
Other projects made possible by the first round of funding included:
- a new multi-use netball court in Cheltenham;
- a community garden in Clayton;
- a multicultural food festival in Monash;
- social and educational programs in Glen Waverley;
- a tree planting day in Burwood, and
- the preservation of historic photographs in Box Hill.
SRL East is powering ahead, with major construction underway, more than 3000 people already working on the project and tunnelling to start next year.
As Australia’s largest housing project, Suburban Rail Loop will also help deliver thousands more homes exactly where they’re needed.
Applications close 4pm Friday 24 October 2025.
Guidelines and eligibility criteria can be found on our community fund page.