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Drone shot of Box Hill

Suburban Rail Loop - Precinct Planning

The State Government has commenced the structure planning process for the neighbourhoods up to 1.6km around each of the new SRL train stations, including Box Hill and Burwood.  The project will be led by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA).

Each structure plan will set out a vision for how the areas will meet the housing, employment and social infrastructure needs of the growing population.  This may include changes to land uses, building heights and densities, and additional infrastructure such as open space.

Planning Scheme Amendments are needed to implement the structure plans for Box Hill and Burwood into the Whitehorse Planning Scheme.

The structure planning process is expected to be completed by 2026 and will include community engagement at various stages throughout the project.  Details about timelines and opportunities for involvement can be found on the SRLA website

Planning areas

The Suburban Rail Loop Act (2021) gives the Minister for SRL the power to declare the areas which are to be included within the precincts.  These are referred to as ‘SRL planning areas’. 

The Minister for SRL declared the SRL planning areas on 4 December 2023.  The Box Hill and Burwood maps are shown below and more detailed maps can be found on SRLA’s website, under the ‘Planning area declaration’ heading.

Now that the areas have been declared, SRLA becomes the Planning Authority under the Planning and Environment Act (1987).  As a Planning Authority, SRLA can prepare the structure plans and exhibit the planning scheme amendments.

Council continues to be a Responsible Authority and will still assess planning permit applications.

SRL Planning Area – Box Hill

SRL Planning Area Box Hill

 

SRL Planning Area – Burwood

SRL Planning Area Burwood

 

Draft SRL Precinct Visions

The draft Precinct Visions were released by the State Government for community comment in December 2023.  The Visions include possible changes to the look and feel of the Box Hill and Burwood precincts in the future, and describe preliminary ideas for how to cater for the extra homes, offices and community spaces that will be needed for the additional population in the precincts.

In Box Hill, the preliminary ideas include:

  • More areas in central Box Hill that allow taller buildings with different uses
  • More medium and high-density housing, including social and affordable housing
  • Support local centres, such as Laburnum, to complement central Box Hill
  • Plan for more public transport, walking and cycling options
  • Encourage growth in health and education.

You can read the draft SRL Precinct Vision for Box Hill 

The preliminary ideas in Burwood include:

  • Using the land along Burwood Highway, Elgar Road and Highbury Road for things like employment, amenities, services and higher density housing
  • Build a centre close to the Suburban Rail Loop Burwood station to include high density housing, hospitality, retail and other commercial uses
  • Improving the Gardiners Creek corridor
  • Support growth of the education precinct
  • Support job growth
  • Provide different types of housing and densities, including social and affordable housing.

You can read the draft SRL Precinct Vision for Burwood

Council has prepared the following information sheets to assist Whitehorse community members understand the SRL Precinct Visions in Box Hill and Burwood:

At its meeting on 26 February 2024, Council endorsed its submission regarding the draft SRL Precinct Vision for Burwood and Box Hill.

Council’s initial position on SRL Precinct Planning

Whitehorse City Council is supportive of the transport benefits that will come from the Suburban Rail Loop rail project. However, we want to see robust and transparent processes in place to ensure the associated precinct planning is undertaken with the community’s best interests in mind, and with meaningful community input that genuinely influences the outcomes of the project.

Council is looking for the changes around the SRL stations in Box Hill and Burwood to be sustainable, logical and clearly justified. This balanced approach recognises the need to grow while respecting the existing character and the people who live, work and visit the areas.

Council is continuing to advocate to SRLA to commit to entering into a collaborative partnership agreement with Council to develop the Structure Plans for Box Hill and Burwood.  As part of this, and given Council’s rich local knowledge of the areas, Council is asking for SRLA to actively respond to Council’s views on precinct planning so that Council can ensure the plans reflect local community needs and give due consideration to open space, environment, amenity, liveability and our local economy.

Further information can be found in Council’s submissions to SRLA regarding:

All residents and visitors to the precinct areas are encouraged to consider the information available and let the State Government know what you think.

More information: