The amended Domain Precinct Development Plan was available for public display and comment from Wednesday 22 September 2021 until Wednesday 13 October 2021.
As part of the amended Development Plan submission to the Minister for Planning, CYP Design & Construction Joint Venture (CYP D&C) provided all written comments received during the stakeholder and community consultation period.
In total, 105 submissions were received for the amended Domain Precinct Development Plan. A wide range of issues were raised during the consultation process. Key issues raised in feedback received included:
- Changes to St Kilda Road and Albert Road (including car parking and bicycle access)
- Tree removal, retention and replacement
- Changes and refinements to ancillary structures along St Kilda Road
St Kilda Road and Albert Road Changes (Parking)
Anzac Station connects the Domain precinct to the rail network for the first time. The design allows commuters to directly interchange between trains and trams, and to access the station through a pedestrian underpass under St Kilda Road.
The reduction of St Kilda Road from three lanes to two lanes to allow for a kerbside bike lane and a one metre-wide median presented the opportunity to retain additional trees on St Kilda Road. In the section between Bowen Crescent and Kings Way, this tree retention requires the removal of on-street car parking due to the space constraints in this section. This decision, made following consultation with stakeholders, balances the needs of all road users while also retaining trees on the heritage listed St Kilda Road boulevard.
Universal access car parking and loading bays for residents have also been included within the design and parking allocations have been further reviewed as part of detailed design. The revised design proposes 134 parking spaces along St Kilda Road, 23 along Domain Road and 50 along Albert Road.
St Kilda Road and Albert Road Changes (Bicycle Routes)
Anzac Station is strategically placed to ease pressure on the St Kilda Road / Swanston Street tram corridor, which is the busiest tram corridor in the world. It will feature a convenient, direct train / tram interchange on St Kilda Road.
The Victorian Government is committed to building new bicycle lanes that physically separate drivers and cyclists to make St Kilda Road safer for all road users. To allow space for the delivery of separated bicycle lanes, St Kilda Road traffic lanes have reduced from three to two, both northbound and southbound between Dorcas Street and Toorak Road.
CYP D&C has been working with the project delivery authority and the Department of Transport and Planning to ensure the cycling infrastructure proposed around the new Anzac Station is coordinated and integrated with the broader upgrades along the St Kilda Road corridor. CYP D&C has provided all relevant information to Major Road Projects Victoria, the Department of Transport and Planning, and the project delivery authority to enable the proposed upgrade works both to the north and south of the CYP D&C limit of works to be undertaken by others. This includes the provision of kerbside bicycle lanes on St Kilda Road from north of Dorcas Street to the Arts Centre. CYP D&C has also designed the Albert Road bicycle lanes to link into the Albert Road Green Spine and the Shrine to Sea Project being delivered by DELWP.
When the Metro Tunnel opens in 2025, 146 bicycle parking spaces will be provided. In response to stakeholder comments, the bike parking locations have been refined across the Domain precinct. This includes the relocation of the bike share from the south-east corner of Domain and St Kilda roads to west of the Domain Road tram stop. Some bicycle hoops have been relocated across the precinct. The amended design proposes an additional 20 bicycle parking spaces in comparison to the previously approved Domain Precinct Development Plan. In addition, space for 200 future secure bicycle parking spaces is provided.
Tree Removal and Replacement
The Metro Tunnel Project will revitalise public space and increase tree numbers.
To deliver a major project of this scale and complexity, some tree removal is required to allow the safe construction of stations and associated infrastructure. The Project is committed to protecting and retaining as many trees as possible. The design process considers any tree impacts on an individual – tree by tree – basis and methodologies are adjusted wherever possible to protect trees. The Project’s overall objective is to double tree canopy across the entire Metro Tunnel Project.
The amended Domain Precinct Development Plan retains an additional 14 trees than the previously approved Development Plan and the Project will continue to investigate options to retain additional trees as construction progresses.
The design for the Domain precinct includes reinstating trees along St Kilda Road and within Albert Road Reserve. Overall, there will be a minimum of 227 new trees within the Domain precinct which will contribute to RPV’s objective of doubling tree canopy across the Metro Tunnel Project.
A tree replacement program has been developed in consultation with Heritage Victoria, City of Melbourne and City of Port Phillip. Trees within the St Kilda Road heritage boulevard are specified to be 200L pot size in accordance with the Project Scope and Technical Requirements.
Upon completion of the Project there will be approximately 71 new trees compared to prior to project works (this is an additional eight trees since the previously approved Development Plan).
Ancillary Buildings And Chiller Plant
Size and massing
The sizing of the ancillary structures including ventilation and chiller plants is driven by the technical requirements of the tunnels and station infrastructure below ground. The size of these structures has been minimised as much as possible while ensuring that the structures meet the technical requirements for air flow and noise attenuation.
The materiality of the ancillary structures has been updated in the amended design to be a weathering steel. This material has been carefully selected for its autumnal colours and ability to complement the surrounding landscaping following consultation with the Office of the Victorian Government Architect and Heritage Victoria.
Location
At the Domain precinct, ventilation shafts have been proposed within the centre median strip of St Kilda Road. This location was chosen as it sits directly above the station infrastructure beneath St Kilda Road and the structures themselves have been designed to ensure that they minimise any visual impacts to heritage monuments in the local area, including the Shrine of Remembrance and the South African Soldiers Memorial.
Noise and air quality impacts
The trains running through the Metro Tunnel will be electric and do not generate emissions that could impact human health or the local environment.
During normal operations the ventilation shafts assist with balancing the air pressure within the tunnel, created by the fast through movement of trains within a confined space.
What makes ventilation shafts an important aspect of the design of the Metro Tunnel is their role in dispersing smoke in the unlikely event of a fire emergency in the tunnel. In this scenario, ventilation shafts will emit smoke from below, helping provide passengers a safe evacuation route while also allowing emergency personnel access to the site. The ancillary structures also include in-built noise attenuation.