Adding to yesterday’s pre-Budget announcement of $5.3 billion worth of funding for social housing, today the Victorian Government announced $2.2 billion of budget funding for initial and early works of Stage One of the Suburban Rail Loop.

Master Builders Victoria supports major infrastructure projects such as the Suburban Rail Loop, and we welcome this announcement from the Victorian Government. The need for greater transport infrastructure in our state is well established. Master Builders Victoria has consistently advocated for this type of investment, which provides the pipeline of projects and jobs that our industry needs. It also helps address the future transport needs of the Victorian population, and the liveability for which Melbourne is world renowned.

Stage One of the project will link Cheltenham to Box Hill via rail, with works starting in 2022.

The funding will purchase land, upgrade roads and power supply, build new sub-stations, relocate and protect gas, water and other utilities, and deliver other vital works to prepare for major construction.

A pre-qualification will now go out to the market ahead of Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the Stage One initial and early works package being released by the end of the year.

Members may also be interested in the locations of the six stations that will be built in Stage One, both for the builds of the new stations themselves, and future residential building planning.

The six ‘new’ stations will be the conversion of four existing stations (Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley and Box Hill) into interchange stations connected to the loop, while the two stand-alone new stations will be Monash and Burwood. Indicative locations are:

  • Cheltenham: near Southland, underneath Sir William Fry Reserve
  • Clayton: north of Carinish Road (also connecting regional rail lines)
  • Monash: next to Monash University
  • Glen Waverley: central to Glen Waverley activity centre
  • Burwood: next to Deakin University
  • Box Hill: central to Box Hill activity centre

 

More information and maps of the Suburban Rail Loop can be found here.

Today’s media release can be read here.

In the new year, Master Builders Victoria will arrange a member briefing on the Suburban Rail Loop project.