The City of Kingston is continuing to push for the best possible outcomes for the community as planning for the Suburban Rail Loop East precincts moves forward.
Council has welcomed the findings of the independent Standing Advisory Committee (SAC) released on 1 July 2026, which considered the planning framework for the Cheltenham/Highett and Clayton precincts and raised several concerns that closely reflect issues we have been advocating for.
Importantly, the SAC found that the draft structure plans and planning scheme amendments required substantial further work before implementation.
The Committee also criticised the approach of deferring important planning decisions and background work until after the amendments were approved, finding that critical infrastructure, open space and implementation requirements should be resolved upfront rather than left to future planning processes.
Despite these findings, the Victorian Government has now proceeded to approve the planning scheme amendments.
Mayor Cr Georgina Oxley said the findings reinforced the importance of getting the planning and infrastructure right as the area prepares for significant growth.
"We've been very clear from the start that we support the opportunities the Suburban Rail Loop can bring, but that growth needs to be properly planned for and supported," Cr Oxley said.
"It was encouraging to see the Standing Advisory Committee recognise many of the same concerns we have been raising, particularly around open space, community infrastructure, traffic modelling, sustainability and the need for greater certainty about how the precincts will actually be funded and delivered.
"The committee was clear that important work shouldn't simply be pushed into the future. We agree.
"Unfortunately, the Government has now moved ahead with the planning scheme amendments despite those findings.
"That makes it even more important that the issues identified by the independent committee are properly addressed as the precinct planning continues."
The State Government has also announced that the Suburban Rail Loop Authority will be brought into the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority next year.
Cr Oxley said this change presents an important opportunity to make sure that planning for the Highett Level Crossing Removals and Suburban Rail Loop Project which are immediately adjacent to each other are fully integrated.
"Whatever the structure of the agencies responsible, Kingston needs to remain at the table. Accountability must exist to ensure the clearly documented concerns of the expert independent SAC, who heard submissions across 16 weeks of hearings, will be addressed."
Despite strong advocacy from Kingston and support from the SAC for greater certainty around the location of community infrastructure and open space, sites have not been identified in the approved structure plan or designated within the planning scheme, leaving uncertainty around how land will be secured for these purposes.
"In areas of significant growth in established Melbourne we have learnt the hard way that retrofitting critical infrastructure in after development is much more costly and very complex," Cr Oxley said.
Currently, the planning scheme doesn't require replacement open space to compensate for existing public land that has been rezoned for development in Cheltenham either.
Cr Oxley said Council would continue working constructively with the Victorian Government and the agencies responsible for SRL planning and delivery, while making it clear that the existing and future community's interests had to remain at the centre of the next stage of planning.
"We now need to see the recommendations and concerns raised by the independent expert committee properly reflected in what happens next, even though the planning scheme amendments have now been approved.
"That means securing new open space, properly planning for community infrastructure, understanding the needs of the future population and making sure transport and sustainability measures are delivered early, not as an afterthought.
"Kingston will continue to advocate strongly for our community and work constructively with whoever is responsible for delivering the Suburban Rail Loop precincts.
"There is one opportunity to get this right and ensure the people who will live, work and spend time in these precincts in the future have the infrastructure and amenity they need."
Council will now continue to advocate for and work with the Victorian Government to plan for and secure new open spaces in the Cheltenham/Highett and Clayton precincts, seek greater certainty around the critical Southland Community Hub, obtain the necessary demographic data to inform community infrastructure planning and continue discussions around integrated water management.
