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The new South Australian Marshall Government has introduced legislation that will set up a new statutory body called Infrastructure South Australia.

The new body will have responsibility for four key activities including devising a long-term infrastructure plan and managing the oversight of all projects with a capital value greater than $50 million.

Infrastructure SA will also be responsible for developing annual 'Capital Intention Statements' that will prioritise potential major projects for the government over a 5 year period and the boy will also be used to provide advice to government on infrastructure planning, delivery and use as well as advice on appropriate funding and financing models.

Premier of South Australia, Steven Marshall, linked the introduction of the legislation with delivering on election commitments.

<blockquote>
"South Australia spends well over $1 billion a year on the infrastructure needed to get its product to market and that investment needs to be based on economic imperatives.

“This legislation will end the previous Labor Government’s practice of deciding infrastructure investment based around political considerations.

“One of reasons the South Australian economy crawled along during 16 years of Labor Government is the previous government’s poor decisions on infrastructure planning and investment.

“The introduction of the Infrastructure SA Bill 2018 Bill delivers on yet another election commitment.”
<cite>Steve Marshall, Premier of South Australia</cite>
</blockquote>

Like the Victorian equivalent - Infrastructure Victoria - that was set up within a year of the Andrews Government coming to power, the body will have a board made up of public and private sector members and will be required to firstly devise the statewide infrastructure strategy.

One election policy area that we speculate will be assessed (or at least fleshed out) is the Marshall Government's <a href="https://www.saglobelink.com.au/">GlobeLink</a> policy - a series of transport-related projects that aim to increase connectivity with Victoria and New South Wales and the world through a new freight-only airport.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/globelink.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Overview of the SA Government's GlobeLink - image: saglobelink.com.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/globelink.jpg?itok=A1ACtayZ" title="Overview of the SA Government's GlobeLink - image: saglobelink.com.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Overview of the SA Government's GlobeLink - image: saglobelink.com.au</figcaption></figure>The aim of the policy is to redirect heavy freight north-east then south-east out of metropolitan Adelaide thus avoiding the steep road grades on the South Eastern Freeway and the windy rail track that weaves its way up and down the Adelaide Hills.

GlobeLink would see a new freight-only airport built near Murray Bridge which in turn would link with existing road and rail corridors to Victoria.

Likewise, the new airport would be the southern end of the new road and rail corridor that will bypass the Adelaide Hills.

The railway which meanders up and down the Adelaide Hills and links Adelaide to Melbourne and Melbourne to Perth and Darwin has multiple tunnels and thanks to its serpentine nature it is s a slow route.  Removing freight from this route would also free-up corridor space for Adelaide Metro expansion over time.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.parliament.sa.gov.au/ABOUTPARLIAMENT/PARLIAMENTHOUSE/Pages/TheBuildingPhotoGallery.aspx">parliament.sa.gov.au</a>
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Alastair Taylor

Infrastructure South Australia legislation introduced to SA parliament 

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The Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is the latest industry body, lobby or political group to add 'building the East-West Link' to an infrastructure wishlist.  

Their top priority is planning for an airport in Melbourne's south east, presumably one out on the former Koo Wee Rup swamp at Monomeith, and the East-west Link is number two on the list, as reported in the <a href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/calls-for-second-airport-in-melbournes-booming-southeast/news-story/7cef4f14d03b77fe754467c5419995ab">HUN</a>.

“What I’m talking about there is the white vans making deliveries,” Mark Stone, chief executive of the VCCI, told the Herald Sun. “We are still saying that the East West Link is a vital part of infrastructure. Politics is such that if Labor is elected it will not be done at the next election term.”

Let's unpackage that statement.

How would a tunnel linking the Eastern and Tullamarine freeways aid in allowing 'the white vans making deliveries around the city'? 

The primary benefit of large-scale road building in the inner city for the freight &amp; logistics sectors is that transport from entry points - like the Port of Melbourne - to distribution centres becomes faster.  Little white vans don't pick their deliveries up from the docks, they get them from a distribution centre.

If we cast our minds back to the East-West link as approved by the former planning minister, there was to be an entry and exit ramp for Flemington Road coming out of the tunnel from the east and a triangle interchange with the Tullamarine Freeway/City Link that would have consumed a fair chunk of Royal Park (see Red + Black Architect's analysis in the lead image above).

Traffic from the east would be deposited on Flemington Road; would be directed onto CityLink either north or southbound or would be set to travel further, once the second phase of the project was completed, down the new road past the port and into the western tunnel.

I struggle to see how that specific set up would help the little white vans making deliveries around the inner-city.

In many ways, groups lobbying for more road projects in the inner-city are living the 50s, 60s and 70s dream of complete freedom in private vehicles - our roads are all open-access, some of them you have to pay a toll, but we don't designate specific roads for a specific purpose and perhaps this is where the East-West Link truly lost the argument with the local communities affected by it.

The project, as approved by Matthew Guy and just like the West Gate Tunnel and North East Link under the Andrews Government banks on the fact there will be a lot of toll-paying private vehicle usage when the centre of the city is the place where we not only don't want, but really don't need more private vehicles jockeying for public space.  Central Melbourne isn't the hole in the doughnut city we were of the 1980s anymore.

Another key argument for the East-West link, back in the day, was it provided a second high-quality road crossing between Western and Eastern Melbourne, yet now we're seeing an enormous road project that's going to do just that - the North East Link.  It will also link the industrial and logistics sectors in the north with Melbourne's east.

Infrastructure Victoria still has some form of link from the Eastern Freeway to Citylink in its needs assessment - and it's much vaguer than other projects on its list.

If the East-West Link ever rears its ugly head again, perhaps next time the proposal should be for a complete bypass tunnel, a single lane in each direction, for freight vehicles only.

I'm guessing it mightn't stack up, therefore, it would rely on private vehicles, which in turn would expand the scope - you'd need more traffic lanes - and then we'd be back to square one. It's been 4 years since local communities and councils were out with the pitchforks, it''s still very much in people's mind and since then the inner-city has seen even more people move to it.

In order to let the little white vans make their deliveries more efficiently, the focus should be on getting more people out of their cars in the inner-city so the existing high-quality arterial network can see more productive use by the logistics sector.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://theredandblackarchitect.wordpress.com/2013/12/10/an-update-on-the-east-west-link/">Red + Black Architect</a>.
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Calls to "build the East-West Link" persist - perhaps its time to redefine it?

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This week Laurence and Alastair sit down and wax lyrical on the events of the past week, including a new apartment launch within Fishermans Bend, Adelaide's SAHMRI 2 and Keilor Road is losing its last car yard to a new development.

Don't forget to subscribe to our podcast through your favourite app - just search for Apartments.com.au.

If you've missed any of our earlier episodes, check out our soundcloud stream <a href="https://soundcloud.com/urbancomau">here</a>.

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Weekly Podcast: Episode 19 - Fishermans Bend, Adelaide's SAHMRI 2 and Keilor Road car yards gone kaput

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The New South Wales Department of Planning and Environment has begun a new consultation round that has been triggered due to an updated scope on the section of the new metro line between Sydenham and Bankstown.

Transport for New South Wales has prepared a <a href="http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&amp;job_id=8256">Preferred Infrastructure Report</a> (PIR) which "provides a description of changes as the result of community comment since the exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)."

The PIR lists a station-by-station comparison of the Sydney Metro City &amp; Southwest project, as it was described during the EIS period, with the preferred option which has taken previous consultation rounds into account and now crystallised in the PIR.

For instance, at Dulwich Hill, when the project was exhibited as part of the EIS, the existing station entrance was to be removed and the platforms rebuilt, however as part of the preferred project, the existing station entrance would be retained and upgraded as well as the heritage platforms would be re-levelled.

Likewise, at Wiley Park, originally in the EIS the station entrance would be removed however in the PIR it is set to be retained with heritage platforms to be re-levelled just like at Dulwich Hill.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/bankstown_syd_metro_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Overview of the works proposed for Bankstown station - image: Transport for NSW"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="376" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/bankstown_syd_metro_1.png?itok=L8hCHu9s" title="Overview of the works proposed for Bankstown station - image: Transport for NSW" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Overview of the works proposed for Bankstown station - image: Transport for NSW</figcaption></figure>Most of the stations between Sydenham and Bankstown would see the same kind of scaled-back changes except for Bankstown itself.

As it will be the interchange station between Sydney Metro and Sydney's suburban trains, it will still see a significant amount of work carried out on site.

The Preferred Infrastructure Report outlines that all the works at Bankstown that were exhibited as part of the EIS process remain the same with the exception of a shared path component within the station precinct that will no longer be preferred.

David Gainsford, the Department of Planning and Environment's Executive Director for Priority Projects is calling for the community to get involved once again. "We encourage the community to have its say on the revised proposal and provide important feedback on this public transport project."

To view the Preferred Infrastructure Report and other associated documents, and to lodge a submission, see <a href="http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&amp;job_id=8256">majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au</a>.

The Department is also handling the strategic planning for the priority growth areas and precincts which has thus far culminated in a draft <a href="http://www.planning.nsw.gov.au/Plans-for-your-area/Priority-Growth-Areas-and-Precincts/Sydenham-to-Bankstown-Urban-Renewal-Corridor">strategy</a> for the region.  

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Sydney Metro City & Southwest enters new consultation round

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In the latest push from the City of Melbourne's transport strategy refresh, the council released a new round of <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy/motor-vehicles">discussion papers</a>, this time focused solely on motor vehicles and the amount of space dedicated to them in the municipality.

Data provided by the City of Melbourne illustrates the decline of car usage in the municipality since 2001 the share of car trips to work has decreased by 28% while the amount of jobs has increased 43%.

Similarly, the daytime population of the municipality is expected to grow from 914,000 per day to 1.4 million by 2036 and the Transport portfolio chair, Cr Nicolas Frances Gilley is keen to see more space reclaimed within the municipality for people.

On average, the amount of space utilised per person when cars are used to travel to the city is 9.2 square metres - contrast this with walking, public transport and cycling at 0.5, 0.5 and 0.6 square metres.

Cr Frances Gilley said the movement of people needs to be prioritised, not vehicles.

<blockquote>
Make no mistake, with a few notable exceptions such as deliveries, disability and emergency services access, we are in the business of reclaiming space from cars for great shared living.

We need to optimise our city streets for people walking, cycling and taking public transport because that is how the majority of people move around and it’s the most efficient way to move large numbers of people as our population grows.

Our ambition is for a beautiful, liveable city where people can continue to enjoy all that Melbourne is famous for, our tree lined streets, pedestrian thoroughfares and outdoor dining.
<cite>Cr Frances Gilley, City of Melbourne</cite>
</blockquote>

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/com_trans_refresh_cars1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Infographic - City of Melbourne"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="867" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/com_trans_refresh_cars1.png?itok=Fod3-kCF" title="Infographic - City of Melbourne" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Infographic - City of Melbourne</figcaption></figure>Chief among the current issues is vehicle congestion, specifically the one in three vehicles on streets such as Flinders, King and Spring that are using the city as a through route.  "Private vehicles cause significant delay for people walking and riding bikes.  Buses and trams stuck in the traffic or blocked at intersections undermine the efficiency and reliability of public transport."

The discussion also says the city needs to significantly increase its transport capacity to serve a 65% increase of people in the city.  "The expansion needs to be based on space-efficient modes better suited to city movement: public transport, cycling and walking," the <a href="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/hdp.au.prod.app.com-participate.files/9815/2948/0050/Transport_Strategy_refresh_-_Motor_vehicles.PDF">discussion paper</a> says.

It appears the state government and opposition might have a bone of contention with the council if the municipality pursues increased reallocation of space from cars to sustainable modes with the Premier telling the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-21/melbourne-city-council-considers-sweeping-changes-to-push-cars/9892998">ABC</a> "Melbourne City council are free to pursue these ideas, but they're not ideas the Government supports."

"We've already got significant pressure in the city with some narrowing of roads and some other disruptions and I am very grateful to people who move throughout the city for dealing with those important disruptions."

Matthew Guy, the Leader of the Opposition, likewise told the ABC "I don't think it's a radical plan, it's a ridiculous plan."

Despite the not unsurprising reaction from Premier and the Opposition Leader, effectively turning their noses up at the idea of reducing cars in central Melbourne, the council wants a wider debate to occur.

Cr Frances Gilley said we need to change the way we as a society think about car parking.

“In San Francisco, they introduced a dynamic pricing system for on-street parking that increases with demand, this resulted in a 50 per cent reduction in drivers circulating streets searching for parking," Cr Frances Gilley said.

“There’s a lot we can learn from cities around the world who are decreasing dependence on cars in order to remain economically and globally competitive. New York and London have converted road space to pedestrian zones and bicycle lanes, improving safety and increasing retail sales.”

To view the discussion paper and have your say, see <a href="https://participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au/transportstrategy/motor-vehicles">participate.melbourne.vic.gov.au</a>
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City of Melbourne wants to see less cars, more space for sustainable transport in its municipality

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On Adelaide's North Terrace, in what's dubbed the Adelaide BioMed City, a second building will join the original SA Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI) which will house the southern hemisphere's first proton therapy unit.

To be named the Australian Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy (also known as SAHMRI 2), the proton therapy unit will be located in the basement of the 14 level Woods Bagot-designed building.

Funding for the new therapy unit and research building will come from the SA and Federal Governments as well as private sector sources.

According to developer Commercial &amp; General, the "unique infrastructure represents South Australia’s highest priority project for health, research and education, providing a focal point for research of international calibre into the most serious chronic illnesses."

The SA Government will move Adelaide Metro's train operating and control centre which currently resides on the site before construction gets underway.  A <a href="https://www.saplanningcommission.sa.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/470840/Combined_Docs_020.A035.18_SAHMRI_2.pdf">planning application</a> is currently on public exhibition.

The second SAHMRI building joins the new Royal Adelaide Hospital, The University of Adelaide's Health and Medical Sciences building and University of South Australia's Health Innovation building to form the Adelaide BioMed City cluster.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/sahmri2_commgen.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="An overview of Adelaide BioMed City - image: Commercial &amp; General"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="232" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sahmri2_commgen.jpg?itok=HiNAlulC" title="An overview of Adelaide BioMed City - image: Commercial &amp; General" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>An overview of Adelaide BioMed City - image: <a href="http://www.commercialgeneral.com.au/projects/sahmri-2/">Commercial &amp; General</a></figcaption></figure>According to Proton Therapy Australia, Proton Therapy is one of the most technologically advanced treatments for cancer.

<blockquote>
Protons are split off a hydrogen atom, accelerated to roughly two-thirds the speed of light; transported along an evacuated tube into one of a number of treatment rooms and delivered to the patient via gantries allowing 360 degree rotation around the patient, or via single beam lines.

When treating any cancer with radiation, the aim is to deliver maximum dose to cancer cells while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.

Conventional radiation therapy faces challenges from side effects because of a relatively high radiation entrance dose and the exit dose.

By contrast, Proton Therapy has a much lower entrance dose and no exit dose causing less damage to healthy tissue surrounding the tumour.
<a href="http://protontherapy.com.au/proton"><cite>Proton Therapy Australia</cite></a>
</blockquote>

The new building is set to include 31,000 sqm of space with the first three floors occupied by SAHMRI researchers.  The building will also have 20-25 clinical trial rooms and be able to deliver proton therapy to 800 patients a year.

SAHMRI 2 is expected to be complete by 2021.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.australianbraggcentre.com/">australianbraggcentre.com</a>
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Adelaide's Bragg Centre for Proton Therapy unveiled

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<h2>Comment</h2>

Since 2013 when the first contract for Sydney Metro Northwest was signed by the New South Wales Government, there have been two further announcements that deal with the new metro network's expansion.

Sydney Metro Northwest is phase 1, Sydney Metro City &amp; Southwest is phase 2 and in the 2018 NSW state budget announced recently, $28 million will be allocated to finalise the business case for the Western Metro - let's simply call it phase 3.

The NSW Government has chosen to break the link with the existing railway network by selecting a rail technology platform that will operate independently of the Sydney Trains network.

The NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian has overseen, whether in her current role as Premier or in her former role as Minister for Transport, a very large amount of new metro lines either proposed or under construction - 66km of new or upgraded track for the first two phases and approximately 20-25km with the Western Metro / phase 3.

And it's no secret there's more to come based on the joint announcement with the Federal Government on the Western Sydney City Deal and new rail lines to the Badgery's Creek airport.

In 7 years, the NSW Government has almost completed the first phase; is advancing toward full-blown construction on the second phase, and is now even 'reserving' money for the third phase.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cYU3-CcBG-8" width="100%"></iframe>

The Andrews Government in Victoria had an election pledge to remove 50 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne and has kicked off the Melbourne Metro tunnel and upgrades to the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines which includes an entirely new and separate fleet of trains.

The Level Crossing Removal program is vast and will occupy a lot of government time if the Andrews Government is re-elected in November (and you could also argue beyond the list of 50, if an ongoing program is set up and executed, that work will continue for another decade or more).

We first saw the second metro tunnel appear on maps under the previous Liberal Government, however, this year, we now see routes and stations appear on structure plans for Fishermans Bend.

Yet we've not had a commitment to the build, unlike the time when the Andrews Government announced $1 million for a Rowville Light Rail line.

The Prime Minister threw $5 billion into the mix for a Tullamarine airport rail line - and the planning work for that is expected to be completed soon, or at least, the Federal Government wants it done before the Victorian election in November.

Spring Street announced funding for a light rail business case from Caulfield through Monash and potentially out to Rowville and similarly there's a study on 'speedier' Geelong rail services on the cards as well.

Yet still no commitment to the second metro tunnel from Clifton Hill to Newport. 

Infrastructure Victoria gave it a negative BCR albeit with one giant asterisk that states there's no model for calculating the benefits of redeveloping the vast Fishermans Bend area (and thus, that benefit was not factored into the preliminary BCR) which the second metro tunnel will directly service.

It'd be remiss of me to not acknowledge the NSW Government has a 3-year head start on the Victorian Government when it comes to laying out a decade's worth of city-shaping rail projects however we're still left with one question in Victoria.

Where to next?

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NSW gets on with its new metro phase 3, VIC still stuck on phase 1

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The Western Australia Government is seeking expressions of interest from a range of parties to undertake economic analysis and support business case preparation for the extension of the Armadale railway line to Byford which will possibly over the long term be further extended to Mundijong.

Expressions of interest are also being sought for engineering and land-use planning consultants who will undertake further work to inform the business case preparation.

The planning and engineering consultants will study the best station location and design options, potential land uses surrounding the station precincts as well as rail alignment design work, traffic and access analysis and creating a vision for how the extension will integrate with surrounding precincts.

The WA Government secured $750 million from the Federal Government to be used for projects under development and the Byford extension project also received $21 million in state government funding.

The WA Premier, Mark McGowan, said his government was getting on with their election commitment to move forward with its Metronet plan for metropolitan Perth.

"The Byford extension is a key component of Metronet stage one because it will link one of our fastest growing areas to the rest of our public transport system, providing access to jobs, schools, the airport and the CBD," the WA Premier said.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/render_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Whiteman Park station on the Morley-Ellenbrook line will see significant medium density development - image: Metronet"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="405" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/render_1.jpg?itok=7-PSaZt1" title="Whiteman Park station on the Morley-Ellenbrook line will see significant medium density development - image: Metronet" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Whiteman Park station on the Morley-Ellenbrook line will see significant medium density development - image: Metronet</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, in late May the WA Government announced a partnership between the Department of Communities and Peet Brabham will be formed to see a new town centre and housing development occur along the Morley-Ellenbrook line.

The Morley-Ellenbrook line will be a greenfields railway that will branch off the from the Airport &amp; Midland lines near Bayswater and it will travel northwards to Ellenbrook.

The partnership announced by the WA Government is expected to construct 3000 homes as well as schools, retail and recreational facilities close to the proposed Whiteman Park train station - about halfway along the proposed Morley-Ellenbrook line.

WA Housing Minister Peter Tinley said "Brabham will be a major transport oriented development linking the Swan Valley to Perth, and provide a significant boost to the State's stock of affordable housing in Perth".

<a href="https://www.metronet.wa.gov.au/">Metronet</a> is a WA Government program that will see multiple rail extensions and new lines across Perth including the new Airport &amp; Forrestfield link, the Morley-Ellenbrook line, the Byford extension and the Thornlie-Cockburn link which will create an outer eastern and south-eastern orbital rail line in metropolitan Perth.

The program also includes station upgrades, an upgrade to the rail system's signalling system and level crossing removals.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Armadale_railway_station,_Perth">Wikipedia</a>.
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Tenders for Perth Metronet Armadale to Byford extension released

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NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet has handed down 2018's state budget which will see the state's massive education and transport infrastructure bonanza continue.

In common with other states and the federal government, much of the big ticket items have already been announced prior to the budget speech.  They included, among may things, money to kick start converting Sydney Train's existing lines to use a 'digital signalling platform'.

However, unveiled today is a cool $3billion is to be reserved for the Western Metro project which aims to add rail capacity between Sydney's CBD to Parramatta/Westmead.

$28 million will immediately be made available in order for the business case to be accelerated and finalised by year-end.

There has been a consultation process where over 1,200 people have so far provided feedback on the route of the Western Metro and there will further opportunities later in the year, the NSW Government says.

The NSW Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Andrew Constance, re-iterated the Western Metro will link Sydney CBD with Parramatta and Westmead via The Bays Precinct and Sydney Olympic Park.  The money that is released from today's budget will go toward determining where other stations on the new metro line will be located.

<figure><a class="colorbox colorbox-insert-image" href="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/q_auto:good/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public//pictures/article-images/18044-west_simplified-alignment-map-web.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Sydney's Western Metro will have a finalised route by the end of the year. Image: Sydney Metro"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="361" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/18044-west_simplified-alignment-map-web.jpg?itok=NFn6Gpa0" title="Sydney's Western Metro will have a finalised route by the end of the year. Image: Sydney Metro" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sydney's Western Metro will have a finalised route by the end of the year. Image: <a href="https://www.sydneymetro.info/files/west-map">Sydney Metro</a></figcaption></figure>“This project will redefine how we get around Sydney and will double rail capacity between the two city centres, a true city-shaping infrastructure investment that will serve generations to come. We have already begun the work to determine the best underground route between the Sydney CBD and Greater Parramatta with a program of geotechnical drilling, which will continue," Andrew Constance said.

The $3 billion foreshadowed in today's budget will partly be used for land acquisition, early works and tunnelling, subject to completion of the business case. 

Elsewhere in the budget $121 million was allocated to completing Arthur Phillip High, a vertical school in Parramatta, The Sydney Morning Herald reports funding will also be allocated to a neighbouring primary school.

$2.4 billion will be allocated in 2018-2019 for Sydney Metro Northwest, the first stage of Sydney's new metro network that is scheduled to have construction and testing complete with full operations starting in 2019. $258 million will be allocated to Parramatta Light Rail Stage 1.

To see the 2018 NSW Government budget, see <a href="http://www.budget.nsw.gov.au">budget.nsw.gov.au</a>

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Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.sydneymetro.info/">Sydney Metro</a>.
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NSW Budget allocates $3 billion for Sydney's Western Metro

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Despite some unrelated signalling issues around Cardinia Road on Monday morning, the trains are back and all the level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong have been removed in south east Melbourne's busiest rail corridor.

Likewise, the new Frankston station was opened to passengers today that will also see Frankston trains use the new Skye/Overton Road bridges.  Frankston line trains will also be using new temporary track through the site of the Seaford Road level crossing removal project.

Carnegie and Murrumbeena stations are now open, albeit with temporarily reduced accessibility - the stations are only accessible via temporary stairs while work continues below the train deck. Hughesdale station is still a few months away from opening.

Trumpeting the government's progress, removing more than their original target of 20 in the first term of government, the Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan, said the removal of level crossings between Caulfield and Dandenong has paved the way to run more trains more often.

"No government has ever removed this many level crossings, this quickly. As we reach the half way point of the project, we celebrate the significant progress we’ve made but recognise there is still plenty more to do," the Minister said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Every level crossing between Caulfield and Dandenong is done and dusted. 
Thrilled to catch first train at the new Carnegie Station with <a href="https://twitter.com/Steve_Dimo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Steve_Dimo</a> this morning. 
Locals can move about the community without ever having to worry about boom gates again. <a href="https://t.co/Cf4X3QxlQV">pic.twitter.com/Cf4X3QxlQV</a>
— Jacinta Allan (@JacintaAllanMP) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/JacintaAllanMP/status/1008461422865465345?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

The Victorian Government says by the end of June 2018, 25 level crossings will have been removed - this includes the 4 level crossings between Caulfield and Oakleigh which opened on Monday, Skye/Overton Road in Frankston and Thompsons Road in Cranbourne.

The first section of the new road bridge that will send Thompsons Road rising over the Cranbourne line will open at the end of this week. 

As was the case at the site of the level crossing removal at Watergardens, one section of new road bridge will open taking both directions of traffic while the second section is built.  Eventually, Thompsons Road will have 6 car lanes over the Cranbourne line, up from the single lane in each direction with a level crossing.

Now that Frankston trains divert around the original site of the Seaford Road level crossing on temporary track, major works will get underway to remove the level crossing entirely by building a rail bridge over Seaford Road.  

Trains running through all three individual elevated rail segments on the Dandenong corridor is only temporary as another major shutdown, from Westall to Pakenham and Cranbourne, is scheduled to kick off on June 30 and last until July 8 while power and signalling systems are upgraded.

According to the Victorian Government's <a href="https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/projects/level-crossing-removal-project">bigbuild.vic.gov.au</a> website, level crossings located at Kororoit Creek Road in Williamstown North, Buckley Street in Essendon and Abbots Road in Dandenong South will have been removed as well.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/a.883837948357558.1073741830.843601892381164/1980139698727372/?type=3&amp;theater">Level Crossing Removal Authority</a>.
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Trains resume on Dandenong and Frankston rail corridors

Around 400 additional homes could be built at Southwark Grounds on Port Road, lifting total site capacity from 1300 to around 1700 dwellings.

A recently approved code amendment would allow apartment towers of up to 14 storeys in some areas of Renewal SA’s redevelopment of the former West End Brewery.

Renewal SA Acting Chief Executive Shane Wingard said he welcomed the code amendment, with the increase in heights and homes making a positive impact on the supply of high-quality, well-connected housing close to the city.

“By going higher across some parts of Southwark Grounds, we are adding a substantial number of very well-located homes with little impact on project delivery time or planned open space,” Mr Wingard said.

Since the project officially launched in 2025, Mr Wingard said more than 12,000 enquiries had been received about living at Southwark Grounds.

“The very strong early interest we’ve seen since homes were first released in the precinct reinforces our plans to create more housing opportunities,” he said.

The Southwark Grounds code amendment was launched in December last year, with community engagement undertaken over five weeks from January.

It proposed increasing maximum building heights from eight to 14 storeys on the eastern section of Southwark Grounds, and to 12 storeys across the remainder of the site, with minimum building heights ranging from two to four storeys.

The code amendment was implemented through an Early Commencement policy in late January, allowing developers to quickly explore the viability of increased height and housing yield while other planning processes continue.

One of the first developers delivering apartment sites have already finalised redesigns to increase the number of apartments following the code amendment.

Samaras’ development adjacent to the future Colonel Light Park is now planning to deliver 125 apartments across 11 storeys, significantly greater than original plans of around 50 apartments across four storeys.

The developer is also exploring the potential for additional affordable housing outcomes.

Most of the apartments at Southwark Grounds will be delivered within a master-planned precinct on a large parcel of land on the eastern portion of the site, covering around two-thirds of its 8.4 hectares.

Wingard said detailed precinct planning over the coming months may identify further opportunities to increase yield further that could see total apartment numbers at Southwark Grounds, exceed this number.

Affordable homes at Southwark Grounds will also see a net increase, with Renewal SA maintaining its commitment to a minimum of 20 per cent affordable housing across the development.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Civil works have begun across the site, with construction under way on the first new roads surrounding a townhouse precinct in the south‑west corner of Southwark Grounds. This includes Renewal SA’s 17 Founder’s Row homes, which are on track for completion by Christmas.

“We expect to have people living at Southwark Grounds by the end of the year, so delivering roads and public spaces for those residents is among our highest priorities.”

Construction of 40 townhouses off Anderson Street, known as West Village and being delivered by Contour, is forecast to begin in mid‑2026. Kolabb’s Anderson Lane development will follow shortly after, delivering a further 26 townhouses.

Southwark Grounds is a state government‑led urban renewal project now set to deliver around 1,700 homes over the next decade.

Homes will be supported by a supermarket, a range of retail and hospitality offerings anchored by a revitalised Walkerville Brew Tower, a childcare centre, car parking and well‑connected public spaces.

Joel Robinson

400 new homes planned for Adelaide's former West End Brewery site

Brisbane developer&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/cavcorp">Cavcorp</a> has lodged plans for a new mixed-use residential development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/55-wyandra-street-teneriffe-qld-4005">55 Wyandra Street</a>, Teneriffe, anchored by an 85-metre public laneway designed to reconnect the suburb’s riverfront with the Gasworks precinct.

The buildings, known as Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane, would replace the existing Queensland Cotton head office site with a 15-storey residential tower transitioning to eight storeys toward Helen Street. The project has been designed by Plazibat Architects and lodged as a code assessable development application for 93 apartments across a 3,401 sqm mixed-use site within the Newstead and Teneriffe Waterfront neighbourhood plan.

Central to the scheme is the transformation of an existing service easement into a publicly accessible cross-block connection linking Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the new laneway will act as both a pedestrian shortcut and a landscaped civic space between the Teneriffe Riverwalk, ferry terminal, and Gasworks precinct.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="26e7f058-b065-4de8-b13d-a2b8cb64dfcc" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/bldg.png?VersionId=sELS0ZKYi361oYipUa1BIKfe_.DLZoFV" />

“The revised proposal delivers a legacy public-realm cross-block link, permanently secured for community use, transforming an existing private easement into a safe, high-quality pedestrian connection between the Teneriffe heritage riverwalk and the Gasworks–Long Island precinct,” the planning report states.

The laneway will sit beneath a large subtropical loggia integrated into the podium levels of the development. The design incorporates deep landscaping, water gardens, lobby spaces, business lounges, and ground-floor apartments to create what Cavcorp describes as a climate-responsive “urban verandah.”

The tower itself has been designed as a slender form with recessed floorplates and curved translucent corners inspired by contemporary Japanese architecture. The building height aligns with the Commercial Road precinct controls, which permit towers up to 15 storeys within proximity to Longland Street.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a8a17d40-43b6-4718-b3fd-67676fcbb485" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/pers%202_1.png?VersionId=i3VwDtp5AmL_8InW7w4qRbDFEpb744Jt" />

The project will comprise a mix of larger-format apartments aimed at owner-occupiers, downsizers, and families. The proposed apartment mix includes 11 loggia apartments across the lower levels, 50 four-bedroom Sky-Terrace apartments from levels three to seven, and 32 Sky-Pool Homes occupying the upper tower levels. The Sky-Pool Homes will feature private thermal plunge pools integrated into oversized balconies.

According to the application, the apartments are intended to reinterpret the scale and character of Teneriffe’s woolstore conversions and Queensland homes within a vertical residential format.

“The sky-pool homes build on Cavcorp’s previous projects and introduce a distinct apartment typology to Teneriffe, informed by both local and international precedent and responding to an identified market demand for enhanced safety, space and amenity,” the planning submission notes.

A major focus of the proposal is its five-level wellness and lifestyle offering, extending from the basement through to the rooftop.

Amenities proposed include a rooftop Swim &amp; Racquet Club with a 25-metre Olympic lap pool and tennis court, coworking spaces and libraries, golf simulators, wine storage, concierge facilities, business lounges, pet wash areas, and rooftop longevity-focused wellness spaces with spas, outdoor fitness zones, and landscaped terraces.

<img alt="First Look: Cavcorp unveils Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane plans for landmark wellness tower in Teneriffe" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="944b352c-49b9-4247-a4c6-5967b4b69fda" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/amenity.png?VersionId=Ed_qKjAtMwFT.5gfl3jiA9QwdWxSMsaX" />

All parking will be concealed within basement levels accessed from Wyandra and Helen Streets. Cavcorp says the deep-basement engineering approach allows the entire ground plane to prioritise landscaping, pedestrian movement, and active frontage rather than vehicle infrastructure.

The development continues Cavcorp’s concentration in Newstead and Teneriffe, where the Brisbane developer has delivered a number of apartment projects including Lucent, Le Bain, and Luminare, as well as the Long Island Wellness Precinct nearby. Several of those projects have received national design and architecture awards, including recognition under Brisbane’s “Buildings that Breathe” program.

Cavcorp unveils wellness-focused Teneriffe House and Teneriffe Lane apartment buildings

Focus Group Investments has lodged plans for a new apartment development at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/64-70-hanover-street-fitzroy-vic-3065">64–70 Hanover Street</a> in Fitzroy, seeking to utilise the Victorian Government’s recently introduced Great Design Fast Track pathway to accelerate approvals for the project.

The proposal is among the latest developments to emerge through the state-led initiative, which was established to fast-track well-designed residential projects in activity centres and transport-connected inner-city locations. The pathway allows qualifying developments that meet elevated design and housing benchmarks to bypass traditional council planning timeframes and instead be assessed directly by the Department of Transport and Planning.

Designed by SJB, the development will comprise a mix of apartments above activated lower levels, with a strong focus on architectural articulation, landscaping, and communal amenity. The design response seeks to balance the industrial character of Richmond’s former warehouse precincts with a more contemporary residential form.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="abea51cc-d85b-479e-9aef-a589f3b37ca7" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/ground.png?VersionId=e1Kf8EyPWwyiVumtqQ4rM5S4GpOR3CCz" />

Proposed are 63 new dwellings, a wide ranging mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom apartments, and townhouses and duplexes. They will be spread across a part-three, part-eight storey building.

The Planning and Urban Context Report by Tract says the development is of an "exemplary architectural standard" and has been carefully crafted by SJB Architects.

"Dwellings&nbsp;will benefit from excellent access to natural light, cross-ventilation opportunities and extensive communal space," the report noted.

The architectural material highlights the project’s integration of landscaped elements and communal spaces throughout the building. The proposal also incorporates sustainability initiatives aligned with the Victorian Government’s push for higher-performing apartment developments under the fast-track program.

The Great Design Fast Track was unveiled by the Victorian Government in 2024 as part of a broader housing supply strategy aimed at accelerating the delivery of new homes. Projects assessed through the pathway must demonstrate high-quality architecture, sustainability outcomes, and housing diversity while being located close to public transport and existing infrastructure.

<img alt="First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Richmond apartments" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="afdbe834-8dc4-4a77-a943-ba07bc927348" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/site_11.png?VersionId=0J657j.TaChAZfp93wqJYBTqSsnREJx2" />

Focus Group, founder and led by Paul De Lutiis, is increasingly active across Melbourne’s inner suburbs, targeting well-connected urban renewal locations suited to medium and higher-density residential development. The Fitzroy proposal continues that strategy, leveraging the area’s strong transport links, established retail amenity, and proximity to the CBD.

Fitzroy has been one of the most popular spots for developers and buyers in recent years. The likes of PACE Development Group, SMA Projects, Crema Group and Chapter Group, currently selling projects in the suburb.

First look: Focus Group Investments taps Victoria’s Great Design Fast Track for Fitzroy apartments

The Gold Coast Planning Committee has supported the preliminary approval for the Benowa Gardens Urban Village project following an extensive community consultation and assessment process.

The proposal will now proceed to a full council vote on June 2.

The application sought approval for a masterplanned urban village on the existing Benowa Gardens Shopping Centre site, combining new housing, retail, dining, health and lifestyle amenities within a walkable, integrated precinct.&nbsp;

The proposed redevelopment includes around 413 apartments integrated above a revitalised mixed-use centre featuring a full-line supermarket of 4,000 sqm, 6,000 sqm of specialty retail and dining space across around 30 retailers, a 7,000 sqm health and wellness precinct, and roughly 9,630 sqm of office and medical suites.&nbsp;

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="fb36ae47-80bc-45f0-9914-31b0c7b6007d" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C4%201121%20FI.jpg?VersionId=6mRKk2uU4r67TmTt39DKGUlvFRbTVqWa" />

The broader masterplan also includes very significant traffic and transport improvements, wide pedestrian walkways, upgraded pedestrian and cycle connections, and enhanced public areas designed to create a more connected and walkable community environment.&nbsp;

Centre owner Patrick Lu said the milestone reflected months of detailed planning, technical assessment and ongoing communication with local residents, businesses, schools and stakeholders.

“We appreciate the time, consideration and care Council officers and the Planning Committee have given this proposal throughout the assessment process,” Lu said.

“We also sincerely thank the local community for engaging with us, sharing feedback and participating in the consultation process over many months.

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="32fd1fc3-d0e6-485f-ac57-9916c9bcb818" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/PR26576%20Ashmore%20Road%20C5%201121%20FI_2.jpg?VersionId=fz8qQKDBLQ7MyFRc856Zccfbh9nFwLOe" />

“We understand projects of this scale bring questions and concerns, which is why we have worked hard to listen carefully, provide information transparently and continue refining elements of the proposal where possible.

“Our vision has always been to create a well-designed, community-focused urban village that responds to the changing needs of the Gold Coast, while delivering improved amenity, housing diversity, healthcare access and local lifestyle benefits.

“This proposal is about creating a genuine live-work-play environment where residents can access everyday services, schools, healthcare, dining, shopping and green space within walking distance, while also supporting local jobs and economic activity.”

<img alt="$1b Benowa Gardens Urban Village moves to Full Council following Planning Committee support" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="50dfbd04-590e-4fc6-983b-766880947867" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Dining%20Day%20Time%20-%20High%20Resolution.jpg?VersionId=BP7ZoKJ0DdL_8iRkkC8VVx99moICV6kg" />

Lu said the proposal had evolved significantly through consultation and technical review, particularly around traffic, pedestrian and student safety and neighbourhood connectivity.&nbsp;

Melissa Griffin, Director at Urbis, said the recommendation recognised the strategic importance of delivering more housing and services within established urban areas already supported by infrastructure.

“This proposal represents the type of thoughtful, integrated growth that planning frameworks across South-East Queensland are encouraging,” Ms Griffin said.

“The project seeks to place housing, retail, healthcare and employment opportunities together in a highly accessible location close to schools, transport and existing services.

“Importantly, the process has involved significant technical assessment and community engagement to ensure local issues and feedback were properly considered throughout the planning pathway.”

$1 billion Benowa Gardens Urban Village heads to council vote following Planning Committee support

Surfers Paradise is officially set for its first new residential development with a 45-storey skybridge connecting the two towers.

John Camilleri’s Celestino Developments has been given the green light by the Gold Coast City Council to develop its major beachfront precinct across its huge 4,000 sqm oceanfront site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/63-79-garfield-terrace-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">63–79 Garfield Terrace</a>, just five months after its <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-exclusive-billionaire-winx-breeder-s-bold-two-tower-surfers-paradise-play-with-45th-storey-skybridge">submission in late 2025</a>.

The approved scheme will deliver two towers rising 55 and 48 storeys, connected by a skybridge positioned on level 45 that will house a range of resident-only wellness and entertainment spaces.

In its notice of approval, the Gold Coast City Council said the&nbsp;proposed overall built form has been designed to complement the scale, intensity and protect the adjacent amenity and surrounding streets through the use of varied setbacks, site cover and architectural elements.

<img alt="First look exclusive: Billionaire Winx breeder’s bold two-tower Surfers Paradise play with 45th-storey skybridge" data-entity-type="" data-entity-uuid="" src="https://res.cloudinary.com/dz9xllyip/image/fetch/f_auto,c_limit,w_1440,q_75/https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/field/image/Screenshot%202025-12-30%20at%209.53.48%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=ADyPJ_TFbJvSU9wZFOiCBnlPtgF7VWqW" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/dbi">DBI</a>, the development will comprise 275 apartments across the two towers, including a mix of two-, three-, and four-bedroom residences, as well as several penthouses. The apartments will sit above a landscaped podium featuring more than 90 metres of beachfront pool frontage, private resident lawns, lounges, and wellness spaces.

DBI said the design draws heavily from the movement and form of the coastal environment, with curving balcony lines and sculpted façades intended to soften the scale of the towers while maximising ocean outlooks and passive shading outcomes.

“The project occupies a rare, uninterrupted oceanfront site and has been shaped by a design philosophy that merges architectural elegance with environmental responsiveness and a carefully curated lifestyle experience,” DBI said in planning documents submitted to the Gold Coast City Council.

The most distinctive element of the approved project is the skybridge linking the two towers at level 45. The elevated communal space is planned to include executive lounges, formal dining areas, wellness facilities, and panoramic ocean-facing outlooks.

“The skybridge enhances the identity of the development, promotes social interaction, and delivers a lifestyle experience not found elsewhere on the Gold Coast,” DBI said.

At podium level, residents will have access to a suite of resort-style amenities, including resident lounges, private dining rooms, a yoga lawn, gymnasium, plunge pools, and treatment spaces. The beachfront pool has been designed with separate lap, lounge, and children’s areas extending across the width of the site.

The project will also introduce new food and beverage offerings along the Enderley Avenue and Oceanway frontages, contributing additional activation to the beachfront precinct.

Alastair Taylor

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