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It was one of SBS's most highly rated programmes.  If you missed it, you missed a pretty schmick production with an Australian broadcaster's first foray into the 'slow TV' genre when SBS broadcast <a href="http://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/1124160067596/The-Ghan-Australias-Greatest-Train-Journey">The Ghan: Australia's greatest train journey</a> in primetime without ads on Sunday night.

But what you might know is that there are many slow tv-like productions available on free sources like YouTube and video on demand services like Netflix.

Norway is credited with kicking the genre off when the national broadcaster created its Bergen to Oslo production in 2009. It's a 7 hour unedited driver's eye view from a train running from Bergen on Norway's south-western fjord-saturated coast to the capital Oslo - if you have a Netflix account, you can view it <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://www.netflix.com/title/80119525">here</a>.

The Bergen-Oslo broadcast was raw - it's as if the camera was switched on in Bergen, recorded all the way through fjords, the highlands and then was switched off once it reached Oslo's Central Station.  This is the type of unedited slow TV that's all over the web.

SBS's 3-hour The Ghan production broadcast last Sunday has a lot more post-production involved - it's heavily edited (a real-time 54 hour journey condensed down to 3 hours) and provided a lot of on-screen factoids throughout the 3-hours. The ratings success has pushed SBS to now broadcast a 17 hour version on <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/jan/10/slow-train-coming-sbs-to-air-17-hour-ghan-train-on-sunday">SBS Viceland starting in the early hours</a> of this coming Sunday.

The best example of raw slow TV for Melbourne can be found on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/Schony747">Schony747's YouTube channel</a> where some of Melbourne's tram routes are covered in real time.  

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/1gdPcy3xP8A" width="100%"></iframe>

If route 96 doesn't tickle your fancy (above), you might like to try<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz0bQkxd8Ds"> Route 24 shot in 2013</a>, the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_6AhPIIabw">109 shot in 2014</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnsvEC5IAa8">route 12 shot in 2017</a> or <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eBdVwjgmGPM">11a shot in 2016</a>.

(Ever wondered why your tram commute might be a little on the slow side?  Chances are you probably already know: many frequent stops, but in all the videos above, they illustrate the paltry situation we find ourselves in by continuing to follow a poxy quasi-egalitarian policy of shared space on the road. Always remember the carrying capacity of a tram running on 4-5 minute frequencies is likely to be able to carry the same amount of people you see NOT riding in the 5 seats of each of the cars visible in the videos).

For cameras at the front of trains, Australia's best content comes from the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/cuboz1">Sydney Train Cab Videos channel</a>.

Every inch of Sydney's entire rail network is covered both in unedited 'slow TV' fashion but also dramatically shortened timelapse / soundtrack version as well.

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xn8qCB4YP-M" width="100%"></iframe>

The video above is both a slow TV-like production but also a really good introduction to Sydney's train network with the journey starting out in Penrith and running, for the most part, express right into the heart of the city.  It's also a really good illustration of how Sydney's rail network is built for multiple tiers of service from its outer 'burbs - quadruple track from a very long way out in outer suburbs which enables faster express and more frequent stopping all station services to run side-by-side.

(To all those Melburnians who tell the political focus groups that you like your cars &amp; new freeways, you're the reason we can't have nice rail things like they do north of the Murray - we too could have a few routes with two tiers of service to make journeys from the outer areas faster whilst boosting frequencies on stopping all services in the denser areas of inner Melbourne.  However thanks to you, that focus group feedback is sending us on a $20+ billion journey backwards to the 1960s freeway plan.)

<iframe allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="350" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qdDvpNS9xyE" width="100%"></iframe>

Slow TV at high speed - or more to the point, slow TV on a high-speed train, also exists on Youtube.  One of the best examples is the Amsterdam-Brussels journey on Thalys trains which dart through the lowlands of Europe at speeds upwards of 300kph.

You can also chill out and watch the driver's eye view of a TGV running at 300 clicks from <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5adC4px9rwQ">Paris down to the Med</a>.  How about slow TV at high speed in Taiwan? <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ytAKrltE5iE">Come get some</a>.
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Alastair Taylor

Australian slow TV is awesome, here's some more to satisfy your intrigue

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Infrastructure Victoria unveiled a new round of research into its larger programme of work dealing with managing transport demand.  The authority contracted Arup and KPMG to produce the Melbourne Activity Based Model (MABM) and while it is new, it is considered fit for purpose in the strategic context.

The <a href="http://infrastructurevictoria.com.au/sites/default/files/images/KPMG%20-%20MABM%20fact%20sheet.PDF">MABM fact sheet</a> published on Infrastructure Victoria's website summarises the model as follows.

<blockquote>
The MABM was developed to provide an additional tool for IV and the Victorian Government to test the impacts of transport policy and infrastructure proposals on the behaviour of transport system users.  It is one of a range of tools that can be used for this purpose.

The MABM uses a different framework than existing strategic transports models used in Victoria.  Existing models use the traditional 'four-step' modelling framework.  Planners in the USA designed the four-step framework in the 1950s for the testing of alternative options for highway construction.  Four-step models are mature, tested and well understood by practitioners.  As a result, four-step models are still used extensively around the world.

However, the four-step model framework has limitations for certain types of analysis.  New techniques have been developed and matured over the last twenty-five years which address some of these limitations. 

Some issues that MABM is more suited to addressing thank the traditional four-step model framework include:

<ul>
<li>Understanding the transport's 'customers' and their needs and preferences.</li>
	<li>Understanding how customers with different socio-economic and demographic characteristics - such as income, household composition and age - respond to changes in the transport policy or new infrastructure.</li>
	<li>Understanding how fair and equitable a transport policy or investment is, which groups are the winners and losers and to what extent they are impacted.</li>
</ul>
</blockquote>

The <a href="http://infrastructurevictoria.com.au/sites/default/files/images/KPMG%20-%20Travel%20Demand%20and%20Movement%20Patterns%20Report%20-%20December%202017.PDF">report</a> produced by KPMG and Aurp seeks to assess Melbourne's transport network with a 2015 base case and a 2030 future case, looking at the levels of use of the public transport and road networks will change over that period.

It was found that 'over the next 15 years, the population of Greater Melbourne is estimated to grow from 4.5 million people in 2015 to almost six million people by 2031.  An additional 400,000 workers are expected by 2031, increasing the number of daily trips to work within Greater Melbourne by 25%  to almost two million.'

The report also finds that traffic growth will not be experienced uniformly across all regions of Melbourne in line with expected increases in the existing three outer growth corridors and inner-city.

A number of well-known transport projects from the Level Crossing Removal Program and Melbourne Metro to the North East Link have been factored into the modelling for the 2030 future case.

The report notes 'given the overall travel demand growth and changes in transport network supply between now and 2031, travel patterns associated with public transport are [also] forecast to change.   Between now and 2031, the modelling predicts a 75.9% increase in public transport trips across Greater Melbourne, which corresponds to an additional 878,000 public transport trips each day.'

The inner regionals of Melbourne will experience the greatest absolute growth in public trips - the outer regions will experience the largest relative growth due to the low-base figures.  

Despite a large number of new public transport trips predicted this only translates into a very marginal 3.6% mode shift by 2031 where cars are still likely to dominate with an 86.4% mode share of motorised travel versus public transport's 13.6%.

And this relatively modest shift in numbers is acknowledged:

<blockquote>
Car dominance is a symptom of the structure of Melbourne's public transport system, with heavy rail services radiating from the city centre.  Melbourne is likely to remain a car dominant city, with driving forecast to account for more than 70% of trips in 2031. 

While this supports public transport use as a significant mode of travel for trips originating in the inner regions (growing from 39% mode share in 2015 to 48% in 2031), for other parts of the metropolitan area, this is not the case. 

Often, bus services are the only viable public transit alternative, particularly for the outer regions, which can struggle to compete with private vehicles in terms of fast journey times.

The greatest challenges are for people living in the outer regions of Melbourne.  Given the large geographic extent of these regions and their low density, public transport will unlikely be a solution to the problems of excess road demand in these areas without significant levels of investment. 
</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/mtd_3.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Daily car trip growth 2015 - 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="520" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mtd_3.png?itok=_f4KXGKK" title="Daily car trip growth 2015 - 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Daily car trip growth 2015 - 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup</figcaption></figure><h2>Comment</h2>

The page on Infrastructure Victoria's website says that 'in 2018 we will look at a range of interventions that can help manage transport demand and make it as easy as possible for people to get around' which is encouraging because in the context of $20 odd billion of new tollway projects having been unveiled during this Government's time in office, it's time to get creative.

The Andrews Government has already rejected out of hand one of IV's key recommendations - a new road pricing regime - and had a knee-jerk reaction to being wedged by the opposition by piling on the North East Link - politics and transport planning as usual in other words.  So it's refreshing to see one of the new institutions the Andrews Government has set up is doing what it was intended to do - provide independent advice.

Whether the major parties listen and adapt their transport planning policies around this public advice is, of course, a whole different ballgame.

<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/mtd_2.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Road utilisation in the traditional peak hour in 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="408" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mtd_2.png?itok=10tFIxqW" title="Road utilisation in the traditional peak hour in 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Road utilisation in the traditional peak hour in 2031 - IV, KPMG, Arup</figcaption></figure>That said, here's a laundry list of interventions which would be interesting to see modelled.

<h2>Heavy Rail</h2>

The previous state government released the heavy rail network development plan 4-5 years ago and for the most part, all new rail projects that have been announced or appeared in other public domain planning documents have loosely followed it, perhaps with the exception of staging (Mernda rail extension), alteration (Melbourne Airport rail link) or in the case of removal (the North East Link will include a Doncaster busway which effectively kills off the idea of a rail line for at least another few decades).

The four-stage plan provided a vision of Melbourne where trains would be secotrised (to provide independent operations, significantly lowering delay and disruption risks) through two new tunnels - Metro 1 (under construction) and Metro 2 (Clifton Hill to Fishermans Bend, which is now recognised as per the Fishermans Bend Structure Plan process as running from Clifton Hill to Newport).

It also provides for a reconfiguration of the City Loop which would see two of the four tracks become a through line and join the Craigieburn and Frankston lines.  Likewise the Sandringham and Upfield lines would join and form a north-south line with some hard infrastructure works at North Melbourne to separate lines and the Alamein/Glen Waverley Lines would join and run straight through to the West  providing for a second east-west line (the first will be created by joining Pakenham/Cranbourne with Sunbury and eventually Melton).

Secotirsation's primary benefit is increasing capacity on a single line, and rolling out state of the art signalling throughout all lines - like what's being done between Sunshine and Dandenong as part of the Metro 1 project - as well as continually grade separating level crossings will allow far greater frequency of service.  The condundrum for increasing frequencies fundamentally changes from a network (track) problem to one of procuring the right amount of rolling stock.

Therefore, IV would do us all a public service by testing the following:

<ul>
<li>assume an accelerated programme to ensure Metro 2 starts sometime soon during or after the main works for Metro 1 are complete as well as conducting the City-loop configuration - this might complete by 2035 (and outside the 2030 future case), but just assume at least one of those extra heavy rail projects is complete and open for service</li>
	<li>what's the impact on modal share in the outer suburbs (Metro 2 links two of the outer suburban growth areas - Mernda &amp; Werribee) as well as the inner suburbs?</li>
	<li>what's the impact on major freeways - West Gate, Monash &amp; Eastern?</li>
</ul>
Time for some creativity

As per the heavy rail network plan, the Alamein and Glen Waverley line become eastern branches of a second cross-town line to the West - what happens when the Alamein line is extended south with a stop at Chadstone and then interchange at Oakleigh on the Metro 1 line?  What happens when that line is extended further to become the Rowville line?

The original Rowville Rail study explicitly excluded this link and we therefore have no idea what the impact of a train station at Chadstone shopping centre is.  Take a look at the road utilisation image from the report above - that kind of Alamein extension would drive right through the heart of the predicted congested areas in 2030.

And getting even more creative.

We're no strangers for advocating for researching and building an orbital rail network for Melbourne.  This <a href="/news/revisiting-a-melbourne-orbital-rail-line">article from March</a> might serve well for some inspiration. 

The radial heavy rail network with all the above network expansions will have an enormous amount of new capacity built in, assuming all lines run on ten minute off-peak and sub-ten minute peak frequencies (with maximum throughput only governed by the number of trains available for each line &amp; thanks to full sectorisation).

What happens to travel patterns when Melbourne's rail lines are all knitted together outside the core of the city, through the suburban job and leisure/shopping clusters like Monash University &amp; employment centre, Box Hill, Deakin University, Doncaster, Highpoint, Sunshine and Northland which could also see significant new residential and job spaces created?

That's our public transport 'freeways' covered - now let's look at everything else.

<h2>Trams</h2>

Our tram network is the backbone of local and one-transfer from the rail network travel in the inner-city, but the network runs embarrassingly slow.  If you've been living under a rock, you might have missed that the inner-city is an enormous growth engine, not just in jobs, but for where people want to live. 

We're thankfully starting to see the middle ring of suburbs start to see intensive development, but central Melbourne as a sacred cow of activity is unlikely to be thrown off course - and the tram network allows those locals to move about the inner-city and the fringe middle-ring suburbs in some cases.

To give some context, here's an anecdote.  For the past three weeks I've been travelling to the Victoria gardens area of Abbotsford/Richmond a lot - a peak direction commute from the north to the city and then a counter-peak commute from the city out to Victoria Gardens.

In the morning peak, clearways only operate city-bound on Victoria Street between Victoria Gardens and Hoddle Street and only operate outbound in the afternoon peak.

There are two tram route choices - the 12 (which originates/terminates at Victoria Gardens) and the 109 which runs right out to Kew and Box Hill.  In the afternoon peak, to travel from Victoria Gardens to Hoddle Street - about half the journey toward the city &amp; Parliament station - it's taken on average 13 minutes, on one day it took 18 minutes.  To travel approximately 2km. 

This is running pace and a shocking indictment on how cars are prioritised over trams in the inner-city.

There's no doubt many other anecdotes in other parts of the tram network - especially where tram tracks run down an undivided street (the majority of the network) - but what's the impact on the transport network if, at best, all tram routes which are in this narrow road scenario all become permanent clearways (and on-street parking replaced off-street) or in a compromise, what's the impact of all tram routes become peak-hour clearways (regardless of peak direction)?

The tram network suffers the same fate as the heavy rail network - connections (excluding the Chapel Street and Moonee Ponds-Footscray tram) can only be made in the CBD - what would the impact on the transport network be if the old inner-city rail route were to re-open as a tram route linking Royal Park with Clifton Hill and perhaps an entirely new connection from South Yarra via Domain and into Fishermans Bend?

<h2>Buses</h2>

The MABM fact sheet notes that 'it is also more suited to modelling behavioural responses to complex changes to the transport landscape that are likely to occur in coming years and decades' with examples including the emergence of connected and autonomous vehicles.

Well here's some low hanging fruit for the suburbs and the last mile part of the public transport network that is currently dominated by cars in the growth areas and some of the more established suburban areas: '<a href="/news/victoria-starts-trial-of-an-autonobus-at-la-trobe-university">autonobuses</a>'.

Granted, modelling the impacts on behaviour with autonobuses will be difficult and no doubt requires many more assumptions to be made, but early modelling will be valuable as a baseline as the technology and regulatory regime around autonomous vehicles develops.  One suspects this would tie in with Infrastructure Victoria's other pet area of research: road pricing regime change.

And of course, the bus as we know it today, much maligned as it is (whether fairly or unfairly), should also get a lot of modelling love.  It's with some warped and outdated egalitarian ethos that roads in Victoria are treated as a free-for-all with limited priority for road-based public transport, but let's model the behavioural change by doing away with the last century road's policy thinking.

The fixed route bus is likely to be here for many decades to come, especially as the regulatory regime and technology for autonobuses evolve, and in the near term it is still the mode that can be rolled out the fastest and still the mode that really ought to have a much bigger focus in the city's public transport network.

So what happens when major arterial roads see a greater rollout (and policing!) of bus lanes - in the same way that trams might get permanent clearways?  How will fixed route buses running on high frequencies on trunks integrate with autonobuses in future?  How much more people moving capacity do we get out of existing road network is there in the widescale priority given to public transport services?
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What interventions should Infrastructure Victoria test with its new Melbourne Activity Based Model?

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Spring Street has released details of a large shutdown of the Pakenham/Cranbourne and Frankston lines which will allow workers to complete major upgrades to the rail infrastructure.

The work is required to allow for the introduction of the new High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMTs) and will involve upgrading power &amp; catenary, signalling and communications equipment in the Dandenong (Pakenham/Cranbourne) corridor.

The Frankston line is seeing the shutdowns to allow work to be completed around Caulfield junction where the Frankston and Dandenong corridor lines meet.

According to the state government, the work to allow HCMTs to run on the Pakenham and Cranbourne lines, is the largest restoration of the catenary in the corridor for more than 20 years and it is the first rail systems upgrade in the history of the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines.

The timetable of works and shutdowns is as follows:

<ul>
<li>Buses will replace trains on the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines between Flinders Street and Westall and on the Frankston line between Flinders Street and Moorabbin from January 2nd to 9th.</li>
	<li>Buses will replace trains between Caulfield and Dandenong from January 10th to 17th and later in February, at a specific date yet to be determined, buses will replace trains between Westall and Dandenong for two weeks.</li>
</ul>
Level Crossing Removal work on the Dandenong corridor will continue unabated during this time.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/">Level Crossing Removal Authority</a>
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Shutdown and upgrade of Pakenham/Cranbourne and Frankston line to occur over January and February 2018

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From this week passers-by on Swanston Street will be able to get a glimpse of the progress at the newly named Town Hall station construction site.

The Lord Mayor and Public Transport Minister unveiled the viewing platforms on Wednesday.

To coincide with the opening of the viewing areas on the footpath of Swanston Street, it was announced that demolition of the underground car park at City Square and attached to the Westin will accelerate over the coming days.

Jacinta Allan said that there will be some disruption to Flinders Lane as City Square is demolished and the works had been timed to minimise closures through the Christmas and January events period.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Members of the public will now be able to watch construction of Town Hall station from viewing windows on the site <a href="https://twitter.com/JacintaAllanMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JacintaAllanMP</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/LordMayorMelb?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@lordmayormelb</a> <a href="https://t.co/8Flu6K4Tp8">pic.twitter.com/8Flu6K4Tp8</a>
— Kieran Rooney (@KieranRooneyCM) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/KieranRooneyCM/status/938203787700838401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 6, 2017</a>
</blockquote>

CPB Contractors, John Holland and AECOM Australia are up against Laing O'Rourke, Kellogg Brown &amp; Root and WSP in the shortlist for the Rail Infrastructure Alliance (RIA) contract.

According to a Spring Street media release "the RIA will connect the Metro Tunnel to the rest of the network by upgrading and building new infrastructure including a new platform and turnback facility at West Footscray station, and track and signalling work between Tottenham and Oakleigh".

"The RIA will also build tunnel entrances where the Metro Tunnel joins the network in Kensington and South Yarra".

The contract has a value of approximately $1 billion.

<h2>Comment</h2>

If the coverage of individual site progress for the Level Crossing Removal programme is anything to go by, the Melbourne Metro project looks set to have a high degree of media and social media exposure as well.

In fact, we need to cast our gaze north of the Murray and look at what the Sydney Metro project is seeing in terms of coverage - both images and video - by the authority undertaking the project up there.

When the tunnels were being constructed in North West Sydney, an online map would plot the real-time position of the TBMs and there is consistent video footage from drones published on a regular basis.  

Here's hoping we get the same level of coverage once the TBMs are in the ground down here.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/LordMayorMelb/status/938206490782965760">@LordMayorMelb</a> on twitter
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Melbourne Metro Tunnel construction viewing areas open as new shortlist of bidders announced

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Articles in <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-airport-rail-to-be-under-way-within-10-years-premier-says-20171122-gzqywe">The Age</a> and <a href="http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/melbourne-airport-rail-link-can-transform-victoria-daniel-andrews-says/news-story/e350f8f64bde9952bbd345d458d002a3">Herald Sun</a> this morning and later from the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-11-23/melbourne-airport-rail-link-could-be-well-underway-by-2026/9182036">ABC</a> have reported on the first signs of what Victorians might expect from the Melbourne Airport Rail Link which, thanks to a Federal government cash commitment, has seen the speeding up of a project which has broad populist appeal.

The drops to The Age and Herald Sun reported that the Premier would give a speech before the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry today that would see an integration of the works to complete a Melbourne Airport Rail Link with multiple rail infrastructure projects, some of which have already been foreshadowed.

As quoted across all three outlets, the Premier said "It can't just be an expensive funnel for tourists and business people between the CBD and airport. Instead, it can transform the way people live, work and travel across Victoria.  In our view, the airport link has the potential to unlock western and northern Victoria."

The Age made mention of the well publicised Rail Futures Institute Airtrain concept <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/2017/11/intercity-and-airttrain-presentation-to-regional-cities-victoria/">which was recently presented to Regional Cities Victoria</a> - a group represented by the 10 largest regional cities in the state.

All media outlets were running commentary from the Federal Transport Minister Darren Chester on the start of the process to figure out how to bring forward the Melbourne Airport Rail Link - which is what the money announced in most recent state and federal budgets has been allocated for.

<blockquote>
Our expectation is we need to work with the Victorian government, that they need to get on board and be fair dinkum about this process – and we think we can get this done in 12 months – and get the Victorian public a design they can work with, and get on with the job of working out how we fund it
<cite>Darren Chester, Federal Transport Minister, <a href="http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/melbourne-airport-rail-to-be-under-way-within-10-years-premier-says-20171122-gzqywe">The Age</a></cite>
</blockquote>

The ABC is carrying comments from the Public Transport Minister, Jacinta Allan: "What we know is this concept can work.  We've now got to do the planning to look at how, from a construction point of view, we can deliver it"

<h2>Comment</h2>

<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/airtrian.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Screen grab from the Rail Futures Institute's Airtrain presentation - source"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="402" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/airtrian.png?itok=_zdy7TEP" title="Screen grab from the Rail Futures Institute's Airtrain presentation - source" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Screen grab from the Rail Futures Institute's Airtrain presentation - <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/2017/11/intercity-and-airttrain-presentation-to-regional-cities-victoria/">source</a></figcaption></figure>It's early days as it appears the joint planning process has only just begun however the Premier and Public Transport Minister's comments point to the Rail Futures Institute Airtrain proposal as their inspiration for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.  I must stress this is merely an observation &amp; speculation and has not been confirmed - in my comments below I'm simply attempting to piece a few things together based on public domain information.

Some people might remember the Regional Rail Link project was at the time sold to the public as one that separates regional V/Line operations from Metro services within Melbourne.  Likewise, you wouldn't be alone in being confused by the earlier reports this morning that the Melbourne Airport Rail Link would disentangle metro and regional services - this was done as part of the RRL project.

The issue right now is that Vline services are doing the heavy lifting of picking up passengers in outer suburban areas - the 'disentangling' comments might be a reference to building out the rail corridors so that this practice stops.

The Premier's comments emphasise "high speed" rail connections to Geelong and Ballarat (they already exist but run on slower dedicated track within inner-west Melbourne) however this appears to relate to the notion that another set of tracks, outside of the existing corridor, will be built between Southern Cross and Sunshine, just like the Rail Futures Institute proposal.

Reading between the lines further, it appears the Regional Rail Link may see quadruplication earlier than first imagined as the ABC report makes mention that Wyndham Vale would see electrified metro services as well as Melton (which has been a well-publicised medium term goal for the government).

Bridge spans and stations that were built as part of the Regional Rail Link already appear to cater for a future where four tracks co-exist in the corridor, potentially in a scenario where the tracks and platforms which are now in operation would be electrified and eventually have metro services running on them and the new third and fourth tracks acting as the express route for Geelong trains.

Quadruplication in the Sunshine to Deer Park/Caroline Springs rail corridor has also been foreshadowed as part of the Melton electrification project (and Ballarat line upgrade works that are currently underway).

While the various media reports don't expand on the "the airport link has the potential to unlock western and northern Victoria" comments, again reading between the lines, this is where the Rail Futures Institute's proposal comes in to play.

It proposes to build a new dedicated set of tracks from Southern Cross, almost immediately heading underground through North Melbourne, Kensington and bypassing the Footscray station precinct then surfacing briefly near West Footscray then heading underground again at Sunshine where the interchange would be expanded.

The RFI Airtrain proposal sees the underground Sunshine segment gently turning (in order to allow for higher speeds through the curve) northeast and surfacing on the well known Albion corridor where the rail line would then enter the Melbourne Airport grounds from the south and have an underground station at the airport's terminals. 

The RFI proposal's second stage would see new track built northwards from the airport with one branch connecting to the Bendigo line and another connecting to the North East/Shepparton line; this is how 'opening up' northern and western Victoria would likely be done - by segmenting these regional lines (and upgrading them to taker faster trains in the case of Shepparton/Albury-Wodonga) and running regional services, as well as a CBD-Sunshine-Airport and vice versa shuttle.

Regardless, we've been promised with more detail in the new year yet one thing looks clearer: judging by the comments from the state government at least, new rail routes like an extension of the Flemington Racecourse line or a branch of the Craigieburn line are not a high priority.  

All rail lines still lead to Sunshine!
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The spotlight briefly shines on Melbourne Airport Rail Link once again

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Earlier this month the State Government announced a new station between Rockbank and Melton would be built at Toolern.  The announcement is one of many which are slowly creating a picture of how an electrified metro line between Sunshine and Melton will look.

In the most recent budget, half a billion dollars was set aside for Ballarat line upgrades.  On top of adding capacity further down line beyond Melton - new passing loops, closing the original alignment that was bypassed as part of the regional fast rail project from last decade - the Melton to Deer Park junction would have a second track added.

The Melton-Ballarat railway line and Western Freeway corridor is one of the major growth corridors of undeveloped land contained within the urban growth boundary.

At the same time as the plans for Toolern station were unveiled - a public consultation phase is set to begin soon - it was also confirmed that Rockbank station rebuilding works will commence and that a consortium of Lendlease, Coleman Rail and SMEC has been announced as the prefgerred bidder to deliver the project.

<h2>But wait there's (possibly) another station on the way</h2>

New South Wales-based Stockland recently completed a precinct structure plan (PSP) at what it dubs Mt Atkinson, located a little closer to the city than Toolern, between Rockbank and Caroline Springs Stations on the Melton-Ballarat line.

Mt. Atkinson, according to its <a href="http://www.mountatkinson.com/MOU11860_MtA_Masterplan_DD03.pdf">masterplan</a>, is a mixed-use low-medium density residential and commercial-industrial development to be developed on greenfields to the south of the railway line.

A town centre will be located adjacent to a future railway station and likewise, this is the area where higher-density development occurs in visualisations from the development's <a href="http://www.mountatkinson.com/">website</a>.

When (if?) this station goes ahead, the railway line between Melton and Sunshine would have a station on average every 1-2 km, similar to other outer suburban lines like Pakenham and Lilydale: Sunshine, Ardeer, Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Mt. Atkinson, Rockbank, Toolern and Melton.

<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/mtatkinson_station.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Screen capture from mtatkinson.com"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="321" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/mtatkinson_station.jpg?itok=qCUR_PEb" title="Screen capture from mtatkinson.com" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Screen capture from mtatkinson.com</figcaption></figure><h2>The final uncertainties</h2>

The Melbourne Metro Tunnel project is going to link the Sunbury line to the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines and a side benefit of it is that it opens up the Melton should, when electrified, to join that service group.

The junction is Sunshine and it's likely a great deal of work will need to be done.

First and foremost, there will be a lot of mixed stopping pattern rail traffic between Sunshine and Deer Park - where the Regional Rail Link (Geelong line) branches off the Ballarat line -  assuming an electrified Melton line would operate stopping-all-stations and Geelong/Ballarat V/Line services would run express.

Foreshadowed in the Melbourne Metro Tunnel business case in its Extended Works Program, Sunshine to Deer Park junction would be quadruplicated - expanded from two tracks to four - that would separate the Vline traffic for Geelong from the Melton metro line and partially separate Vline traffic for Ballarat.

Focus shifts to Sunshine junction &amp; station because adding another track pair toward Deer Park would increase the conflicts between lines if the junction were to be built cheaply by connecting the new track pair across a flat junction.  

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!4v1511218100454!6m8!1m7!1sd5k8WY5neciB0W2jphxS4Q!2m2!1d-37.78766936809991!2d144.8321360547907!3f326.11751193645426!4f-5.4382767613060565!5f1.1924812503605782" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>

The <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/2017/08/airport-railway-presentation-to-brimbank-council/">Rail Futures Institute has long had a proposal out in the public domain</a> to build a new dedicated Airport-Bendigo/Seymour rail line which would see a new set of underground platforms (and underground alignment) at Sunshine which would remove the potential conflicts with Bendigo Vline services.

It follows that with Bendigo Vline conflicts removed from Sunshine junction, the only remaining major conflict is the new metro track from Deer Park connecting with the existing Sunbury-Watergardens track - perhaps a single flyover of the Sunbury-bound track rising over the Melbourne-bound track from Deer Park would 'do the job' in this case.

The Federal and State Governments are now assessing options to speed up the delivery of a rail line to Melbourne Airport and the Rail Futures Institute proposal is likely competing against other ideas and therefore nothing is certain in this matter, however the RFI proposal may simplify things for the Sunshine junction and station in the Melton electrification context.

Regardless, Sunshine is the last unknown piece of the puzzle to electrify and bring metro services to Melton.
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Toolern not likely the last station to be added to a future electrified Melton line

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Golden Age Group, <a href="/developers/golden-age-group">developer</a> of projects like Sky One in Box Hill, Victoria One and Collins House in the CBD, has announced it has signed an agreement with Starwood Capital Group to enter into a joint venture to manage the hotel component within the new 85 Spring Street.

The $600 million mixed-use development has frontages to both Little Collins and Spring Street. Golden Age Group purchased site from Grocon during February 2017 for $75 million, consequently enlisting Bates Smart to redesign the project.  

Hotel aspect aside, the project is set to include 138 apartments across 39 levels in a building which fronts Spring Street and overlooks the parliamentary precinct. Starwood's signature sees it manage a second building fronting Little Collins Street which will rise to 26 levels and include 250 hotel suites plus amenities such as a bar, restaurants, conference rooms and a gym.

The hotel is tentatively slated to open in 2020, meaning a construction start is likely next year.

<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/springstreet_ex_hero_collins.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="85 Spring Street, image - supplied"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="531" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/springstreet_ex_hero_collins.jpg?itok=-QbXvRc4" title="85 Spring Street, image - supplied" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>85 Spring Street. Image: Golden Age Group</figcaption></figure><h2>What the say</h2>

<blockquote>
Melbourne's hotel market has shown continued growth in rates with strong, stable occupancy and increasing demand due to Melbourne's extensive events calendar and growth in international tourism. We believe strongly in hotels as a well-performing asset class and in the continued strength of the tourism industry
<cite>Jeff Xu, the managing director of Golden Age Group</cite>
</blockquote>

<blockquote>
We are excited by the opportunity to enter Melbourne's growing tourism market alongside such a successful property development and partner as Golden Age Group. Melbourne's hotel market achieves almost 80% occupancy while demand continues to grow. 

With several new component hotel offerings planned for the Melbourne hotel market, we believe a hotel in this tremendous location with many park view rooms and adjacent to the vibrant city's best retail, restaurants and leisure offerings should perform very well.
<cite>Kevin Colket, Asia MD, Starwood Capital Group</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/image45_3_0.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Previous iterations of the design of 85 Spring Street."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="373" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/image45_3_0.jpg?itok=URTBMVDV" title="Previous iterations of the design of 85 Spring Street." width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Previous iterations of the design of 85 Spring Street.</figcaption></figure>85 Spring Street has had <a href="/news/momentous-designs-both-gained-and-lost-in-the-space-of-a-week">an interesting planning history</a> with the most recent planning approval achieved in 2015 under then project architect Denton Corker Marshall.

Golden Age Group's addition of 85 Spring Street to its development ranks earlier this year has seen its development portfolio expand to an estimated $4.2 billion. 85 Spring Street's 338 apartments and hotel suites joins the roughly 1,000 apartments and serviced apartments Golden Age Group has yet to act upon via two additional projects, namely <a href="/buildings/sky-garden-235-springvale-road-glen-waverley">The Glen</a> and Box Hill's <a href="/new-apartments/sky-sqr-517-521-station-street-box-hill">517-521 Station Street</a>.

The joint venture transaction between Golden Age Group and Starwood Capital Group is subject to regulatory approval, with the hotel brand name likely to be announced thereafter. 
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Golden Age and Starwood Capital partner for 85 Spring Street's hotel component

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The trial of an autonomous bus - or autonobus as it is being dubbed - has kicked off in Victoria on La Trobe University's main campus after other states have begun similar trials.

Autonomous buses are just that: small buses with no driver, packed with sensors so the vehicle can feel its way from A to B.  The vehicle in question does not have an internal combustion engine - it's electric - and manufactured by French company <a href="http://navya.tech/en/">Navya</a>.

One of the key partners on the trial is the RACV and this mirrors the experience in other states with their respective royal automobile mutuals playing a key part - the<a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-15/driverless-bus-intellibus-notches-up-2000-passengers-in-trial/8354524"> RAC took part</a> in the trial of the first of its kind in Perth and <a href="https://www.mynrma.com.au/community/news-and-media-centre/nrma-joins-first-ever-automated-shuttle-trial">NRMA is a backer of the NSW</a> trial that began in August.

La Trobe University's Bundoora campus is the testbed for the Victorian trial with the bus running on a defined route linking the main bus interchange with other sections of the campus.

<a href="http://www.latrobe.edu.au/technology-infusion/autonobus">According to La Trobe</a>, the autonobus 'is being trialled to gain an understanding of the technology involved including how autonomous shuttles integrate with our road system and how humans interact with automated technologies.'

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
Buckle up, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Victoria?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Victoria</a>. Say hello to the state's first self-driving vehicle: Autonobus: <a href="https://t.co/OXNDYgEf26">https://t.co/OXNDYgEf26</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/smartcities?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#smartcities</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AI?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AI</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/transport?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#transport</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iot?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iot</a> <a href="https://t.co/VRCv2x4bUf">pic.twitter.com/VRCv2x4bUf</a>
— La Trobe University (@latrobe) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/latrobe/status/929851052718878720?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 12, 2017</a>
</blockquote>

In reality, this trial at La Trobe's Bundoora campus is one in a very long global list for the Navya vehicle - which is being supplied by HMI Technologies in Victoria.  

Australia may have lost its private vehicle manufacturing industry, yet our market is clearly of interest to new manufacturers, regardless of the infancy level that technology and regulatory systems are at.

The mind boggles with the potential applications of this type of vehicle.  <a href="/news/autonomous-vehicles-the-golden-opportunity-to-right-the-wrongs-of-our-auto-centric-cities">As I've written before</a>, an exciting application for autonobuses might be to liberate people from car ownership.

The economics will have to change - and that is likely to come after the regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles is sorted and manufacturers go mass-market - and I'll be the first to admit we're a long way off, but with a little bit of leadership, we have the chance to write the wrongs of our overwhelming auto-centricity.

During the trial the Navya vehicle will operate on a defined route - much like a bus, tram or train service - however it can also head off into 'roam' mode - turning it into something resembling a taxi, where users can flag it down - most likely through a smart phone app - and then complete their journey.

There is a long way to go until households who live in Public Transport deadzones can truly be liberated from multiple-car ownership through the wide-scale rollout of autonobuses, however eyes on the prize please Spring Street, innovators sometimes need guidance and it's time to get more active.

For those who would like a first-hand experience can register their interest on <a href="http://www.latrobe.edu.au/technology-infusion/autonobus/register-your-interest">La Trobe University's website</a>.
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Victoria starts trial of an 'autonobus' at La Trobe University

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On Monday the Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan unveiled the plans for 22.5 hectares of new open space that is being created under and beside the elevated track and stations now under construction between Caulfield and Dandenong.

In so doing, the public now has access to a wider range of renders which depict in far greater dealer how each precinct will appear once complete.

A new 17 kilometre walking/cycling path which will connect the Caulfield campus of Monash University with the East Link Trail is a key feature of the new open space along with the planting of 30,000 new trees and shrubs, according to a Spring Street media release.

The Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) has created an <a href="http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/crossings/caulfield-to-dandenong/open-space/gallery-page">online gallery</a> dedicated to the open space in the Caulfield-Dandenong corridor.

<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/hughesdale-linear-park-year-1_caption.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena soon after construction is complete - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="332" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hughesdale-linear-park-year-1_caption.jpg?itok=uYlbjYq_" title="Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena soon after construction is complete - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena soon after construction is complete - image LXRA</figcaption></figure><blockquote>
This area of Melbourne has the smallest amount of parkland in Victoria - we're proving more space for locals and families to come together, exercise and play.  Some of Melbourne's most vibrant precincts are located around elevated rail and this open space will help invigorate shopping and hospitality along the corridor
<cite>Minister for Public Transport, Jacinta Allan</cite>
</blockquote>

The new greenery is focused on eucalypts and other native species with 4000 new trees to be planted. Strung along the corridor will be a network of dedicated spaces such as multi-purpose sports courts, fenced dog parks in Clayton and Noble Park as well as spaces dedicated to rock climbing.

<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/hughesdale-linear-park-year-20_caption-.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena 20 years after construction completes - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="332" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/hughesdale-linear-park-year-20_caption-.jpg?itok=abJF_jjp" title="Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena 20 years after construction completes - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render depicting new parkland near Murrumbeena 20 years after construction completes - image LXRA</figcaption></figure>Also confirmed on Monday was a new $15 million maintenance fund dedicated to providing for the long-term care of the new open space and will be used for graffiti removal, weeding, cleaning and rubbish collection.

As mentioned earlier and whether deliberate or inadvertent, the public now has access to a wider array of renders which provide a far clearer picture of how the rail corridor will eventually look, including a set of <a href="http://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/crossings/caulfield-to-dandenong/open-space">aerial maps</a> in each of sections which will have new elevated track and stations.  

Work on the open space will begin in the new year.

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z54iLZozDWg" width="100%"></iframe>
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Wraps come off new linear park plans between Caulfield and Dandenong

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It's similar to when a new high-rise building progresses beyond ground levels and reaches a point where the new facade starts to appear - the 'will it look like the renders?' questions can start to be answered. 

At Noble Park, where the new elevated station is being constructed adjacent to the existing railway station, the first piece of the distinct canopy which is a feature of all five new stations in the Dandenong corridor has appeared on site and fixed in position.  Escalators have also appeared.

Until this point, the most visible signs of work have primarily involved the construction of the elevated track, now we're getting down to the business end with the new stations appearing. 

<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/noble_2.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The new Noble Park station canopy being lifted - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="387" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/noble_2.jpg?itok=UJbIgwGk" title="The new Noble Park station canopy being lifted - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The new Noble Park station canopy being lifted - image LXRA</figcaption></figure>2.8 kilometres of beams have now been installed, completing two of the three elevated sections of new elevated track as part of the 'CD9' - Caulfield-Dandenong 9 - level crossing removal programme.

The last beam was hoisted into place last week in Clayton with the Level Crossing Removal Authority (LXRA) documenting the event on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJw9yMENACAIA8CNTAuF4v6LmRjjPY894Wxg1La0eKM2b1T~_iGJK3C8a5ICwD9IDDaY~-.bps.a.1330080867066595.1073741878.843601892381164/1682735918467753/?type=3&amp;theater">facebook</a><a href="https://www.facebook.com/levelcrossings/photos/ms.c.eJw9yMENACAIA8CNTAuF4v6LmRjjPY894Wxg1La0eKM2b1T~_iGJK3C8a5ICwD9IDDaY~-.bps.a.1330080867066595.1073741878.843601892381164/1682735918467753/?type=3&amp;theater"> page</a>.

<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/noble-park-design.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render of the new Noble Park station - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="326" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/noble-park-design.jpg?itok=Tzl7O1c0" title="Render of the new Noble Park station - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render of the new Noble Park station - image LXRA</figcaption></figure>The LXRA has confirmed the intersection of Heatherton Road and Memorial Drive &amp; Mons Parade will be signalised. 

The existing pedestrian crossing will be moved and integrated with the new intersection, complete with dedicated bike signals.

Project director Brett Summers said "the bigger picture is that at the end of this project there will be a new 17-kilometre walking and cycling trail stretching all the way from Yarraman to Caulfield.  With that in mind we want to make it as easy as possible for people to head off that trail and have safe, direct access to the skate park and nearby residential areas."

<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.google.com/maps/embed?pb=!1m0!4v1510089050969!6m8!1m7!1sTo-eilmpZ3V15Jes4M0YvQ!2m2!1d-37.96537110403422!2d145.1750131206808!3f4.186659000336166!4f2.1769838646090847!5f0.7820865974627469" style="border:0" width="100%"></iframe>

Exact opening times are not set in stone as yet, however, a spokesperson for the Level Crossing Removal Authority confirmed there will likely be a staggered commissioning of the new elevated track and new stations.

By the looks of things, it's a safe bet Noble Park will be the first cab off the rank in the Caulfield-Dandenong corridor.

<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/noble_escalators.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Escalators have been moved into place to allow access to the elevated station - image LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="773" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/noble_escalators.jpg?itok=TqUV-KIB" title="Escalators have been moved into place to allow access to the elevated station - image LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Escalators have been moved into place to allow access to the elevated station - image LXRA</figcaption></figure>
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New station canopy and escalators appear at Noble Park

Virgate Property Group is preparing to commence construction of Verdé, its new apartment development in Melbourne's Arts Precinct at Southbank, following a strong run of sales that has seen more than half of the project's 173 apartments secured.

Verdé has attracted a broad mix of first home buyers, owner-occupiers upgrading from nearby inner-city suburbs and investors, with younger owner-occupier couples aged between 28 and 45 accounting for the strongest enquiry. Many are already living in Southbank, South Melbourne, Albert Park, Port Melbourne, South Yarra and the CBD.

"Verdé is located in one of the most desirable pockets of southern Melbourne," Blair Property Group Director Darren Blair, who is managing sales at Verdé, said.

"It's within walking distance of the Arts Centre, Royal Botanic Gardens, Albert Park Lake, and Southbank's restaurants and retail. It's a great lifestyle location with strong amenity and liveability, which made it a very attractive choice for the project."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372549]

Virgate was already familiar with the precinct, having previously delivered the successful Domain House development in neighbouring South Melbourne. That experience gave the developer confidence to acquire the Coventry Street site and continue expanding its presence in Melbourne's inner south.

"We had been keeping an eye on the site and the broader precinct for a few months before deciding to move forward with the acquisition," Virgate said.

The project was ultimately secured in 2020 following feasibility studies, planning assessments and due diligence, with the brief centred on delivering "a high-quality, considered design that feels both refined and fit for purpose."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=314259]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/bruce-henderson-architects">Bruce Henderson Architects</a>, Verdé comprises 173 one, two and three-bedroom apartments priced from $599,000. The architecture is distinguished by a faceted glass façade that responds to both the site's outlook and Melbourne's changing light conditions.

According to Bruce Henderson Architects, the coloured glazing gives the building a distinctive identity while also providing privacy and solar shading, with residences oriented to capture views across the bay, city skyline and surrounding parklands.

Inside, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/designoffice">DesignOffice</a> has created interiors focused on natural light, efficient planning and enduring materials. Apartments feature engineered oak flooring, natural stone benchtops, floor-to-ceiling glazing and SMEG appliances, while a restrained material palette aims to complement the expansive outlooks rather than compete with them.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=4661 project_image_fid=372550]

Resident amenity has also been designed around everyday functionality rather than occasional use. Facilities include a concierge-serviced lobby, residents' lounge with fireplace, library and co-working space, gym, terrace garden with barbecue facilities, ground-floor café, and package delivery management.

The project's location continues to be one of its strongest drawcards. Positioned on Coventry Street, Verdé sits within walking distance of the National Gallery of Victoria, Arts Centre Melbourne, Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake, while Southbank's dining precinct, Sturt Street trams and the new ANZAC Station are all nearby. The surrounding education catchment also includes Melbourne Grammar, Melbourne Girls Grammar, Mac.Robertson Girls' High School and several major university campuses.

The sales team says buyers have responded particularly well to the combination of location, design quality and long-term liveability.

"They're responding really positively to the quality of the design, premium resident amenities and the uninterrupted views. Many also appreciate the location and how connected it is to everything they need."

The ability to secure stamp duty savings before completion has also been a key factor for purchasers, alongside the opportunity to personalise finishes ahead of settlement.

With construction set to commence soon and more than half the apartments already sold, Verdé enters its next phase as one of the Arts Precinct's more established apartment developments, offering remaining buyers an opportunity to secure a residence before construction advances further. Expected completion is scheduled for late 2027.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=4661]

Joel Robinson

Virgate's Verdé Southbank moves toward construction as sales fly past halfway stage

Downsizer-focused apartment development Kooyongkoot in Hawthorn has been recognised at the 2026 Better Future Melbourne Design Awards, taking home Gold and Silver awards in two categories.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/kooyongkoot-hawthorn-1-kooyongkoot-road-hawthorn-vic-3122">Kooyongkoot</a>, currently being delivered by developer PQD and designed by Cera Stribley, received Gold in the Interior Design – Proposed category and Silver in the Architecture – Proposed category.

The dual recognition reflects the design approach behind the boutique development on prestigious Kooyongkoot Road, where the focus has been on creating homes for downsizers seeking the space, quality and functionality of a detached house within a low-rise apartment building.

Rather than maximising apartment numbers, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/pqd">PQD</a> and <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cera-stribley-architects">Cera Stribley</a> limited the development to just 18 residences, allowing for larger floorplans, greater privacy, generous landscaping and expansive communal spaces.&nbsp;The majority of the apartments also benefit from corner aspects, allowing for dual sources of natural light.

Now around 70 per cent complete and on track for completion in November 2026, Kooyongkoot will comprise a mix of garden residences, ter​race apartments, sub-penthouses, and is crowned by two half-floor penthouses with direct lift access and private rooftop terraces.

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The Silver Award for Architecture recognised the way the building responds to its prominent corner position at the ent​rance to Hawthorn's Scotch Hill precinct, one of Melbourne's most established residential neighbourhoods.

Rather than competing with the grand homes that line Kooyongkoot Road, the architectural approach focused on restraint and longevity, using curved brickwork, generous landscaping and carefully considered proportions to integrate with the existing streetscape.

"The form feels fluid and timeless, as though shaped by the landscape itself – architecture that belongs, rather than competes," said Chris Stribley, Co-Founder and Managing Principal of Cera Stribley.

The judging submission also highlighted practical innovations throughout the building, including lift cores servicing only nine homes each, a central landscaped lightcourt designed to bring daylight and ventilation into the building, and fully enclosed private storage rooms with lighting, power and shelving to better accommodate residents transitioning from larger family homes.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355293]

The Gold Award for Interior Design recognised the project's focus on long-term liveability rather than display-home aesthetics.

According to the awards submission, the interiors were designed from the inside out, prioritising how homes would function over decades of daily use through generous proportions, practical storage, durable natural materials and flexible layouts.

The specification includes natural stone throughout, upgraded acoustic glazing, V-ZUG appliances and fully enclosed storage rooms, alongside an amenity offering focused on wellness, entertainment and everyday convenience.&nbsp;

Residents will have access to a gym and yoga studio, a wellness centre featuring traditional and infrared saunas, a cold therapy shower and treatment room, as well as a residents' lounge and golf simulator/cinema room for entertainment.&nbsp;Kooyongkoot has also considered the everyday convenience of its residents by offering a private carwash and pet wash facilities on site as well as dedicated parcel lockers and oversized fully enclosed storage rooms.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355303]

The project's attention to detail has already resonated with buyers. Earlier this year, Kooyongkoot recorded one of Boroondara's highest apartment sales when an $8 million penthouse was purchased by a Melbourne CEO downsizing from a nearby family home.

"Every detail feels deliberate, from the overall design down to the smallest touches," the purchaser said.

"The level of quality and refinement is exceptional, but what really sold it was how liveable it felt... It felt like a place where everything had been considered, not just a luxury building."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=102717 project_image_fid=355304]

Sustainability also formed a key part of both award submissions. Kooyongkoot is targeting a minimum 7.5-star NatHERS rating across all residences, supported by passive design principles, high-performance glazing, EV charging infrastructure, water reuse systems and a wellness model focused on lower-energy dry facilities rather than pools and large wet areas.

Located within walking distance of Scotch College, Methodist Ladies' College, Koo​yong Lawn Tennis Club, Aubur​n Village and Camberwell Junction, Kooyongkoot continues to target owner-occupiers looking to remain in Melbourne's inner east without compromising on space or quality. A limited selection of two, three and four-bedroom residences remains available, with prices starting from $1.9 million.

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Kooyongkoot wins Gold and Silver at Better Future Melbourne Design Awards

New apartment supply has become increasingly constrained across <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/parramatta-nsw-2150">Parramatta</a> in recent years, with fewer projects progressing through to completion as development conditions have become more challenging.

It makes <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/novm">NOVM</a>'s 2021-completed <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/the-lennox-parramatta-12-phillip-street-parramatta-nsw-2150">The Lennox</a> one of the most recently completed residential towers on the Parramatta River, and among the newest apartment developments in Sydney's second CBD.

With the project largely completed before the sharp escalation in construction costs and inflation following the pandemic, The Lennox is now offering pricing that would be difficult to replicate in a comparable new development in Parramatta today, or across much of Western Sydney.

The majority of the 413 apartments at The Lennox sold before and shortly after completion. A limited release of the remaining apartments has recently been brought to market by capital partner <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/equitifund-group">Equitifund</a>, with entry-level pricing from $700,000 and two-bedroom apartments available from under $1 million.

Rising above the Parramatta River at 12 Phillip Street, The Lennox comprises one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments, appealing to first home buyers, young professionals, families, downsizers and interstate investors seeking a completed apartment in one of Australia's fastest-growing economic centres.

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Rather than positioning Parramatta as an alternative to Sydney's CBD, Equitifund believes the city has reached a point where it stands on its own merits.

"Parramatta is no longer simply an alternative to Sydney CBD, it's becoming a destination in its own right," Equitifund Executive Chairman Greg Huxley said.

"The Lennox captures that evolution with a level of quality and amenity that's difficult to match at its price point."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=953]

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/marchese-partners">Marchese Partners</a>, the tower responds directly to its riverfront setting through expansive glazing and open-plan layouts that maximise views across the Parramatta River and city skyline. Interiors feature engineered timber flooring, stone benchtops, stainless steel appliances and floor-to-ceiling glazing, while generous balconies extend the living spaces outdoors.

Marchese Partners says the project was conceived to balance high-quality apartment living with practical, long-term functionality, pairing larger, efficient floorplans with amenities more commonly associated with five-star hotels.

That emphasis continues through the resident facilities, which include a 20-metre rooftop swimming pool, fully equipped gym and wellness spaces, full-time concierge, a residents' lounge, function room, private lifts, secure basement parking and rooftop communal areas overlooking the Parramatta River. Ground-floor boardwalk retail and dining further activate the riverfront and integrate the building into the surrounding public realm.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=925]

Australian housing and finance group Equitifund has secured the remaining apartments, believing there are few completed apartment opportunities in Parramatta that offer the same combination of location, amenity and pricing.

Equitifund National Sales Director Ben Hamblett says buyers are increasingly recognising that premium apartment living no longer needs to come with Sydney CBD pricing.

"The Lennox is where aspirational living becomes attainable," Hamblett said.

"Wake to river and mountain views, step into Sydney's Second CBD, and arrive home to resort-calibre amenities, all without the harbour price tag."

Hamblett says owner-occupiers are also attracted by the convenience of having Westfield Parramatta, Church Street's dining precinct, Parramatta Park, Riverside Theatres, Western Sydney University and major transport connections all within walking distance.

"At The Lennox, lifestyle is not an afterthought, it is the foundation."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=5743 project_image_fid=5374]

The Lennox places residents within walking distance of Parramatta Square, Westfield Parramatta, Church Street Eat Street, Parramatta Station, the ferry wharf, Light Rail, the future Sydney Metro West, Parramatta Park and CommBank Stadium, reinforcing Parramatta's position as one of Australia's most connected metropolitan centres outside Sydney's CBD.

Equitifund says buyers visiting the display suite consistently comment on the quality of the finishes, generous floorplans, river and skyline views, and the walkability of the location. The project has attracted a broad mix of local professionals, upsizers, downsizers, buyers relocating from Sydney's inner suburbs and interstate investors seeking long-term growth opportunities.

That demand aligns with Parramatta's continued evolution as an economic powerhouse. Equitifund Research and Market Insights specialist John Bekiaris says sustained population growth, infrastructure investment and expanding employment opportunities continue to support long-term housing demand across the city.

"Parramatta has evolved from a satellite city into one of Australia's most important economic centres. Population growth, infrastructure investment and employment are all supporting sustained long-term housing demand."

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The apartment price gap drawing Sydney buyers west

A luxury beachfront apartment at Rainbow Bay has more than doubled in value since it sold off the plan six years ago, setting a new local apartment record in the process.

The three-bedroom apartment in the Flow development on Petrie Street, the first of four new projects locally by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects, has sold for $7.4 million, after originally selling for $3.27 million when the project launched in 2020.

The seventh-floor apartment, comprising 187 sqm of internal living space and a 54 sqm balcony overlooking Froggies Beach and Snapper Rocks, was purchased by a local family.

The transaction was negotiated by Pezet Matheson director Kerry Pezet and equates to more than $30,000 per sqm.

Pezet said the sale reflected the limited opportunities to buy into the boutique beachfront development.

"The sale highlights the rarity of opportunities within the boutique beachfront development, where residences seldom become available," Pezet said.

"Flow is one of the Gold Coast's most tightly held buildings. Buyers from our database move quickly when residences become available, and achieving an off-market sale at $7.4 million demonstrates the depth of demand for property of this calibre."

<img alt="Flow" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c585b206-2130-4eee-a50c-3f27c51a7c70" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-06%20at%208.33.25%E2%80%AFPM.png?VersionId=m3pHRDV62Y3fvN.XQuQHq.52ilTWpRLf" />

Flow was the first of four luxury apartment developments delivered by Paul Gedoun's S&amp;S Projects at Rainbow Bay and was completed in 2023.

Positioned on the beachfront overlooking Snapper Rocks, the residence includes three bedrooms, three bathrooms, a powder room and views stretching north along the coastline towards Surfers Paradise.

Pezet Matheson Residential principal Mitchell Lambert said buyers continued to prioritise quality beachfront apartments in tightly held locations.

"Flow Residences offers a rare combination of elevated beachfront positioning, architectural excellence, comprehensive resident amenity and premium finishes, which is exactly what discerning purchasers are seeking," Lambert said.

"The transaction further reinforces Rainbow Bay's reputation as one of Australia's premier coastal lifestyle destinations, where limited supply and growing demand continue to support strong market performance."

Pezet Matheson originally marketed and sold out Flow off the plan, making the latest transaction a return to one of the project's original buyers.

Paul Gedoun is selling his third project, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/radia-rainbow-bay-271-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Radia Rainbow Bay</a>, after recently completing, and selling out, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/buildings/esprit-217-227-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Esprit</a>. He has plans for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/qld/first-look-s-s-projects-proposes-88-apartment-wellness-tower-at-coolangattas-boundary-street">fourth building</a>, 88 apartments on <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/209-213-boundary-street-coolangatta-qld-4225">Boundary Street</a>.

Rainbow Bay apartment doubles in price since off the plan sale during pandemic

The long-planned transformation of Brisbane's historic Shafston Estate has taken another major step, with Capella Hotel Group announced as the luxury hospitality partner behind what will become Brisbane's first branded residences.

The project, to be known as Capella Residences Brisbane, is being delivered by Verso Projects at the landmark Kangaroo Point riverfront estate, with completion targeted for 2029.

The announcement follows a series of planning changes to the project over recent years. The site was originally approved in 2023 for a 15-level, 37-apartment development designed by Rothelowman for Burgundy Group before Verso Projects took over the 10,070 sqm riverfront holding and lodged revised plans with Kerry Hill Architects to increase the development to a 25-level tower with 51 apartments.

The latest announcement confirms Capella Hotel Group will bring its branded residential offering to the project, marking just the second Capella Residences development globally after Seoul, and the group's first branded residential project in Australia.

The <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/23-castlebar-street-kangaroo-point-qld-4169">Castlebar Street development</a> will centre around the restoration of the heritage-listed Shafston House, one of Brisbane's oldest residences, originally constructed in 1851 by Reverend Robert Creyke as a single-storey cottage known as Ravenscott.

<img alt="Capella" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2b9f4ce5-638f-4d6b-8082-3ca7e4b75fca" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-07-09%20at%207.20.41%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=f7aeqsW_DzOJI4FymWb3lD8NptSfsP7q" />

Capella said the project aligns with its focus on heritage-led developments, with the Brisbane estate combining the restored historic residence with a new luxury apartment tower and hospitality-inspired resident amenities.

Residents will have access to the Capella Living Room, a concierge-led communal space inspired by the group's luxury hotels, alongside landscaped gardens, six swimming pools, wellness and recreation facilities.

The broader estate will also include two riverfront homes, a six-berth private marina, porte cochère arrival experience, secure basement parking and a new section of public riverwalk along the Brisbane River frontage.

The heritage Postal Depot Building will also be retained and repurposed as a guest house, in line with the revised development plans.

The project represents another evolution for the site, which Kerry Hill Architects previously described as a rare opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's most significant heritage estates while creating a new benchmark for apartment living.

"The Shafston Estate provides a once-in-a-generation opportunity to restore one of Brisbane's finest heritage precincts and to reinstate residential use as a unique site perched on the edge of Kangaroo Point," Kerry Hill Architects said in its Urban Context Report accompanying the planning submission.

"The project will celebrate excellence in sub-tropical residential design, setting a new benchmark for vertical living in Brisbane."

Verso Projects, which now has an $8.5 billion development pipeline spanning more than 6,000 dwellings across apartments, townhouses, retail and commercial projects, said the partnership with Capella would elevate the development beyond a traditional residential project.

"We feel honoured to be restoring Shafston Estate to its former glory, elevating it to new heights of luxury and excellence underpinned by Capella's distinctive service ethos and design philosophy, and making it a standout landmark in Brisbane," Verso Projects CEO Steve Laffey said.

"By partnering with Capella, globally recognised for its refined approach to luxury hospitality and deep respect for cultural and historical context, we will elevate this project beyond a residential offering into a world-class destination."

Capella Hotel Group President Roland Fasel said Brisbane's emergence as a global city made it the right location for the company's Australian residential debut.

"Brisbane is a city on the cusp of something remarkable, and Capella Residences is our commitment to being part of that story," Fasel said.

"The Capella residential experience is more than luxury. It is about a sense of belonging to a place with deep meaning."

Private appointments have now opened for the project, with a display suite expected to open in late 2026 ahead of the planned 2029 completion.

Alastair Taylor

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