Kingston Council has raised concerns about the Victorian Government's Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) draft precinct plans, warning that the current plans fail to identify how critical infrastructure needed to support liveable, sustainable neighbourhoods will be delivered.
Mayor Georgina Oxley said that, while Council supports new public transport and housing, the plans released by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority do not commit to essential services and infrastructure to match the scale of growth being proposed.
"These draft precinct plans allow for significant development - at a level not seen in Kingston - but they do not provide a clear pathway for the delivery of vital services and infrastructure," Cr Oxley said.
"While our Housing Strategy did identify growth in these areas, it was not this significant.
"We're particularly concerned about the lack of funding commitments to plan and deliver new sporting facilities, schools/kindergartens, community facilities and bicycle paths that are essential before development comes."
Some of the key matters the Council is asking the State Government to address in the draft Cheltenham and Clayton precinct plans include:
- Setting aside funding to deliver essential infrastructure to support liveable neighbourhoods including a community hub/library and schools/kindergartens.
- Identifying suitable land in Kingston's Green Wedge to deliver sporting fields to meet significant additional demand that will result from the SRL project and Victorian Government's Activity Centre program. With population growth also expected in surrounding areas, Kingston is the only suitable location for large-scale sporting facilities.
- Delaying or staggering new development rules - that allow high-density housing with reduced parking – so they do not come into effect years ahead of the new SRL stations being ready.
- Delivering bike paths and bus routes immediately to manage pressure on already congested local streets.
- Providing improved, under-cover connection between the new SRL station and existing Southland Station.
- Providing (prior to construction starting) a clear plan to replace parkland that will be lost at Sir William Fry Reserve.
- Better integration between the SRL and Level Crossing Removal Project to ensure a continuous pedestrian/cycle path will be delivered to link right along the Frankston trainline.
- Appropriate planning controls to manage the impact on residential streets from overshadowing, delivering the highest quality building design and achieving landscape outcomes that deliver the urban forest targets the Government have set.
Cr Oxley called on the Victorian Government to address these issues urgently.
"We're asking the State Government to commit to funding the critical community infrastructure needed to make these precincts truly liveable," she said.
"One of our primary concerns in 2025 is that new developments will be allowed without adequate car parking long before the new SRL station opens.
"We could face years where new developments with little-to-no car parking are allowed and being constructed without the SRL stations established and critical pedestrian and cycling infrastructure being built. Our local streets and communities simply cannot accommodate more demand for on-street parking.
"We call on the Victorian Government to instead adopt a transitioned approach to allow decreasing parking gradually, to minimise the gap before the new station is up and running."
Cr Oxley thanked the many residents and traders who took the time to review the plans and share their feedback directly with the Suburban Rail Loop Authority.
"We want to thank all community members who spoke up and made their voices heard," Cr Oxley said.
"This is a major change for our neighbourhoods, and it's vital that the community's expectations around infrastructure, services and quality design are reflected in the final plans."
Kingston's full submission is available at kingston.vic.gov.au/srl-submission.
