Planning approvals

Planning approvals for rail infrastructure for SRL East in Victoria were informed by an Environment Effects Statement (EES) – Victoria’s most comprehensive and transparent planning and environmental assessment process. Key approvals for SRL East are now in place following the Minister’s assessment of the EES (listed below). These include a Planning Scheme Amendment, Cultural Heritage Management Plans and project area designation.

Separately, we’re planning now to ensure areas around SRL East stations will be ready to meet the needs of our growing city. Structure plans for the areas around new SRL East stations will provide a framework for how areas around the new stations will grow and change over time, while protecting and preserving the features people love about them now.

Key Planning Approvals

The conditions of the SRL East Incorporated Document require SRLA to prepare a number of plans and strategies which were approved by the Minister in October 2022. These may be amended over the life of the SRL East, to the satisfaction of the Minister, with the most up to date version provided at the relevant links below.

Planning scheme amendment

Planning Scheme Amendment GC197 (the amendment) was gazetted in September 2022 and amended the Bayside, Kingston, Monash and Whitehorse Planning Scheme to enable land to be used to build and operate SRL East (project land). The project land is identified by a planning control called Specific Control Overlay (SCO) 14.

The SRL East Incorporated Document (incorporated document) sets out the conditions for the design, construction and operation of SRL East on land within the extent of SCO14.

The amendment also applied a different planning control called SCO15 to ensure underground tunnel infrastructure is protected from development that is not designed appropriately.

A planning permit may be required for buildings and works on land within the SCO15 as set out in the SRL East Infrastructure Protection Incorporated Document.

These planning controls may be amended from time to time with the most recently approved versions provided at the relevant links above.

Surface and tunnel plans

SRL East must be designed and constructed generally in accordance with the approved SRL East Surface and Tunnel Plans

These plans outline core elements of the project, including the location of station boxes, underground tunnels and cross passages, as well as surface infrastructure including the train stabling facility, power substations and emergency support facility.

Environmental management

The SRL East Environmental Management Framework (EMF) provides an overarching framework to address all environmental requirements and includes over 100 Environmental Performance Requirements (EPRs). The EPRs cover a range of aspects including air quality, noise and vibration, landscape and visual impacts and are the conditions the project must meet for design, construction and operation.

Open space

SRLA is committed to minimising impacts on people and places during both the construction and operation of SRL East. This includes ensuring local communities have access to quality public open spaces and can continue to enjoy exercise, play and social experiences among nature and greenery.

The Public Open Space Framework (POSF)Framework sets out principles and actions to mitigate impacts on passive, active and planned community open space during construction and operation of rail infrastructure.

Urban design

The SRL East Urban Design Strategy (UDS) will guide the design of the stations and rail infrastructure. It is designed to maximise SRL East’s positive contribution to the surrounding precincts and ensure final designs delivers enhanced outcomes for local communities.

Prior to the development of the permanent above ground components of buildings (including final built form, permanent roads and public realm, pedestrian and cycle routes and permanent bus and tram interchanges) Urban Design and Landscape Plans (UDLP) will be prepared to the satisfaction of the Minister. The UDLPs must be in accordance with the UDS. [RN4.1]You can view a copy of the approved UDLPs below:

Residents and business support

The SRL East Communications and Stakeholder Engagement Management Framework establishes the overarching approach for engaging with stakeholders and communities throughout the project and outlines SRLA’s processes for handling enquiries and complaints.

SRLA is proactively working to reduce and manage construction impacts on business and residents and will assist businesses to continue to operate. These measures are set out in the:

Residential Support Guidelines outline proactive measures and support services that SRLA and its appointed contractors may deliver during the construction of SRL East.
Business Disruption Mitigation Framework alongside the Business Support Guidelines outline the types of support available to eligible businesses.

Other key approvals

Cultural heritage

SRL East is within the boundary of two registered aboriginal parties (RAPs) with the northern section of SRL East within the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation (WWCHAC) boundary and the southern portion falls within Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation’s (BLCAC) responsibility.

Cultural Heritage Management Plans (CHMPs) have been approved by WWCHAC and BLCAC and SRL East will be delivered in compliance with the conditions of the CHMPs. The CHMPs will be amended from time to time subject to approval from the RAPs.

Project area designation

SRL East was declared a major transport project under section 95 of the Major Transport Projects Facilitation Act, 2009 (MTPFA) for the purposes of project delivery.

Plans showing the original MTPFA Project Area Designation for SRL East can be viewed here: MTPF Act Designated Project Area (PDF 5MB).

The Designated Project Area for SRL East has subsequently been varied to include additional areas. Gazettals and plans relating to these variations are linked below:

Any variation plans must be read together with the original designation plan to fully describe the designated project area for the project.

Planning area declaration

The Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop has declared ‘Suburban Rail Loop planning areas’ under section 65(1) of the Suburban Rail Loop Act 2021 described in the Planning Area Plan. SRLA is a Planning Authority under the Planning and Environment Act 1987 for these planning areas.

The declared planning areas include locations for future housing and business development with the borders generally following natural features such as major roads and highways, parks and waterways and municipal boundaries.

As a Planning Authority, SRLA can prepare and exhibit planning scheme amendments. Local councils also remain a Planning Authority for these areas, as well as the balance of their municipalities. They also remain Responsible Authorities responsible for assessment and decisions on planning permit applications.

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act referral

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act 1999 is the Commonwealth Government’s central piece of environmental legislation.

The EPBC Act provides a legal framework to protect and manage nationally and internationally important flora and fauna, ecological communities and heritage places.

A referral was submitted under the EPBC Act outlining matters of national environmental significance. Related documents can be found on the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment website by searching for referral number 2021/9101.

In January 2022, the Commonwealth Government decided SRL East would not be a controlled action or require further approval under the EPBC Act.

Key Planning Approvals

Other key approvals

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