Overview

Overview

Please note

This project was known previously as Suburban Rail Loop – Stage One, and it has since been updated to Suburban Rail Loop East. This includes references made to “Stage One” in the documents on this page.

Background

Proponent: Suburban Rail Loop Authority

The Suburban Rail Loop is a new 90-kilometre rail line that will connect Melbourne’s metropolitan train lines from the Frankston Line in the east to the Werribee Line in the west. The first stage of the Suburban Rail Loop program is the south-east segment from Cheltenham to Box Hill.

Suburban Rail Loop East includes the following key components:

  • twin rail tunnels between Cheltenham and Box Hill;
  • six new stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Box Hill with interchanges to existing railway stations at Cheltenham, Clayton, Glen Waverley and Box Hill;
  • a stabling facility in Heatherton including a train wash, maintenance facilities and operational control centre.

Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) is managing the Project on behalf of the Victorian Government.

Process

Minister's Assessment

On 5 August 2022, the Minister for Environment and Climate Action (as Minister jointly administering the Environment Effects Act) issued her assessment under the Environment Effects Act 1978.  This concludes the environment effects statement (EES) process for this project. The assessment has been provided to the SRLA, as the proponent, the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop and statutory decision-makers to inform decisions on this project.

The Minister’s assessment concludes that the environment effects can be acceptably managed, subject to recommendations made by the Minister.

Inquiry and Advisory Committee

The Suburban Rail Loop East Inquiry and Advisory Committee (the IAC) was appointed by the former Minister for Planning on 14 November 2021 under the Environment Effects Act  and the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to consider the EES, draft planning scheme amendment and public submissions and inquire into the environmental effects of the proposal.

Download the following documents to view the IAC report:

View more information on the public hearing on the 'Panel or Committee' tab.

Exhibition of the EES and draft Planning Scheme Amendment

The environment effects statement (EES), and the draft planning scheme amendment GC197, was released for public comment for a period of 30 business days, from Friday 5 November 2021 to 11.59 pm Thursday 16 December 2021.

View the EES, draft Planning Scheme Amendment and any related documents

Submissions have now closed. View submissions received on the EES and draft Planning Scheme Amendment at Engage Victoria.

Scoping requirements

The scoping requirements set out the matters to be investigated and documented in the environment effects statement (EES).
Draft scoping requirements for this EES were on public exhibition from 26 March to 19 April 2021.  
After considering public submissions on the draft scoping requirements, the Minister for Planning issued final scoping requirements in July 2021.

On the 1 July 2021, the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation Registered Aboriginal Party boundary was varied and as a result encompasses a portion of the Suburban Rail Loop East project land.  The Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation has subsequently been included within the TRG.

Section 4.10 of the Final scoping requirements should be read to include the Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation.

Consultation plan

The Suburban Rail Loop Authority has prepared a communication and consultation plan for the EES, outlining the opportunities and approaches for its community engagement during the preparation of the EES. The plan was refined following advice from DELWP and the Technical Reference Group and is published on this web page. Updates will also be uploaded here. The consultation process may be adapted or modified to meet changing community needs and requirements.

Technical Reference Group

The Department has convened an inter-agency Technical Reference Group (TRG) to advise the proponent and the Department, as appropriate, on scoping and adequacy of the technical studies during the preparation of the EES, and coordination with statutory approval processes.

The government organisations represented on the Technical Reference Group are:

  • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning - Impact Assessment
  • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning - Port Phillip Region
  • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning – Planning
  • Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning – Environment and Climate Change
  • Department of Health
  • Department of Transport
  • First Peoples - State Relations
  • Heritage Victoria
  • Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation
  • Bunurong Land Council Aboriginal Corporation
  • Victorian Planning Authority
  • Melbourne Water
  • Environment Protection Authority
  • City of Bayside
  • City of Kingston
  • City of Monash
  • City of Whitehorse.

Amendment to Public Works Order

Owing to minor refinements to the scope of the initial works, the Suburban Rail Loop Authority requested that the Minister for Planning consider amending the Public Works Order that was made under section 3(1) of the Environment Effects Act for the Suburban Rail Loop East (the Order).

On 5 August 2021, the Minister for Planning amended the Order and a statement of the Minister’s Reasons for the amendment has been prepared.

The initial works, which are excluded from the public works, are described in Schedule 1 of the Order.  These works can proceed prior to the EES process concluding, subject to any approvals that may be required.

EES required

    On 11 November 2020, Suburban Rail Loop Authority provided the Minister for Planning with a Project Outline to inform a decision on whether to declare the project described in the Project Outline to be 'public works' for the purposes of section 3(1) of the Environment Effects Act.

  • Project Outline (PDF, 893.9 KB)

The Suburban Rail Loop Authority also provided the Minister for Planning an Initial Works Impact Assessment and Approvals Report to inform a decision on whether to exclude initial works from the declaration of public works.

On 20 December 2020, the Minister for Planning declared the works proposed for the Suburban Rail Loop East as public works requiring an environment effects statement (EES), including community consultation and an independent panel review to inform the Minister's Assessment and decision-making. The Order was since amended in August 2021.

The works to be excluded from the public works order are specified in Schedule 1 of the order.

In accordance with normal EES practice, a statement of the Minister's Reasons for Order has been prepared.

More information

If you have any questions or need further information, get in touch via the contact details below.

Panel or Committee

Suburban Rail Loop East (SRL) Inquiry and Advisory Committee

The Suburban Rail Loop East Inquiry and Advisory Committee (the IAC) was appointed on 14 November 2021 by the Minister for Planning under the Environment Effects Act 1978 and the Planning and Environment Act 1987 to advise on the Environment Effects Statement (EES), draft Planning Scheme Amendment and public submissions received on the SRL Project in accordance with its Terms of Reference.

The Inquiry and Advisory Committee will conduct a public Hearing to hear from the Proponent, Councils, and various parties and submitters. The IAC will then advise the Minister for Planning on the environmental effects of the Project and draft Planning Scheme Amendment.

Terms of Reference

Terms of Reference (PDF, 10.9 MB) or Terms of Reference accessible version (DOCX, 96.4 KB)

Committee Members

The IAC comprises of the following members.

  • Kathy Mitchell AM (Chair)
  • Michael Kirsch (Deputy Chair)
  • Craig Barker (Member)
  • Elizabeth Hui (Member)
  • Kate Partenio (Member)

Learn more about the members by reading their biographies (PDF, 115.6 KB) or (DOC, 85.0 KB)

Inquiry and Advisory Committee Progress

Public Exhibition

The EES and the draft Planning Scheme Amendment was publicly exhibited from 5 November to 11.59pm to 16 December 2021.

Directions Hearing

The IAC convened a Directions Hearing at 10.00am Friday 28 January 2022 where the necessary arrangements and timetable for the public Hearing were confirmed.

Public Hearing

The public hearing process commenced on 28 February 2022 and concluded on 5 May 2022.

The IAC considered all submissions, irrespective of whether a submitter requested to be heard.

Report

The IAC has submitted its report in accordance with the Terms of Reference. The Terms of Reference require the IAC to submit its report to the Minister for Planning within 35 business days from the last day of its proceedings. This timeframe may be extended if the IAC requests and receives further information following the close of the Hearing.

More information

IAC process and making a submission
Planning Panels Victoria
☎ Phone: 136 186 (select option 6)
✉ Email: srl.iac@delwp.vic.gov.au

Suburban Rail Loop East Project
Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA)
☎ Phone: 1800 105 105
✉ Email: contact@srla.vic.com.au

Ministers Assessment and EES Process
Impact Assessment Unit, DELWP
☎ Phone: (03) 8392 5503
✉ Email: environment.assessment@delwp.vic.gov.au

Documents

Minister's Assessment

Inquiry Report

All documentation relating to this project can be found here.

EES documents

Supporting documents