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Following on from <a href="/news/werribee">Friday's overview</a> of the public transport projects on the horizon in Melbourne's west, today we take a look at the broad growth patronage growth drivers in Melbourne's west.

Greenfields development is the catch-all term used to describe, broadly speaking, low-density suburban development and for the most part, the planning for these precincts are governed by precinct structure plans.

Within each precinct structure plan, developers in the past have focused on detached housing, generally auto-dependent coupled with retail and community (schools etc) precincts.

In the past few years however, precinct structure plans have improved - in the sense that many now include a diverse amount of dwelling types that may get developed as new suburbs do.

It's quite common to see zones that will support apartment buildings - sometimes landmark building - as well as higher-density commercial buildings appear on precinct structure plan maps.

<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/vpa_werribee_melton_psp_map1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="There are numerous approved Precinct Structure Plans in Melbourne's west. Image: vpa.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="419" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/vpa_werribee_melton_psp_map1.png?itok=qincubAj" title="There are numerous approved Precinct Structure Plans in Melbourne's west. Image: vpa.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>There are numerous approved Precinct Structure Plans in Melbourne's west. Image: <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/greenfield/interactive-status-map/">vpa.vic.gov.au</a></figcaption></figure>A good example of how greenfields developments have started diversifying dwelling types is Caroline Springs.  Originally marketed by Delfin from 1999, the development has seen a handful of apartment buildings spring up over the past decade.

Maps contained within the <a href="https://vpa-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/WyndhamC170Incor-BlackForestRoadNorthPrecinctStructurePlanDecember2015ApprovalGazetted.pdf">Black Forest Road North precinct structure plan</a> - better known as Mamnbourin, which covers land directly west of a future station on the Regional Rail Link (and Western Rail Plan) alignment, show a concentration of higher-density commercial/employment uses to be built opposite a future railway station in the area.

The <a href="https://vpa-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Toolern-Part-A.pdf">Toolern precinct structure plan</a>, which governs land either side of the Cobblebank railway station which is nearing the end of its construction cycle, shows a major activity centre to be build either side of the new station and employment land will be zoned between the railway line and Western Freeway.

Two stations up the line toward the city, Stockland's <a href="https://vpa-web.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/MeltonC162IncorpDoc-MtAtkinsonTarneitPlainsPrecinctStructurePlanJune2017ApprovalGazetted.pdf">Mt Atkinson precinct structure plan</a> has provisions for another major town centre located on either side of a future railway station that includes commercial/employment zones with higher-density residential components located above.

The new start-up A-League club, Western United FC, has plans to build its own 15,000 seat stadium in Tarneit, adjacent to the Regional Rail Link corridor.  The <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/wp-content/Assets/Files/Riverdale%20PSP.pdf">Riverdale precinct structure plan</a> was gazetted over this slice of land and it too makes reference to a future station located next to a new town centre.

<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/wydnham_stadium.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Render of proposed Wyndham Stadium. Image: Grand Central Tarneit"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="327" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/wydnham_stadium.jpg?itok=ihRGWzWy" title="Render of proposed Wyndham Stadium. Image: Grand Central Tarneit" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Render of proposed Wyndham Stadium. Image: Grand Central Tarneit</figcaption></figure>There are many precincts to be developed within the urban growth boundary in Melbourne's west, however it's not all going to be low-density residential development.

Diverse town centres and a large proportion of land set aside for employment uses highlights the transport planning context of the Western Rail Plan - many hundreds of thousands of people moving into the area over the next few decades will need to be transported on metropolitan, not regional rail services.

And we shouldn't discount existing suburban centres in the west either - Werribee is one that already has a smattering of higher-density projects that will ensure dwelling types diversify in the region too.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/werribee-vic?embeddable=list-map" width="100%"></iframe>

Lead image credit: <a href="https://levelcrossings.vic.gov.au/media/news/works-on-track-for-train-storage-in-wyndham-vale">levelcrossings.vic.gov.au</a>
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Alastair Taylor

Precincts and developments that will drive public transport patronage growth in Melbourne's West

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<h2>Comment</h2>

In 2015, the first new railway line to be built in Melbourne in many decades opened to passengers. Known as the Regional Rail Link, the project sought to begin separating metropolitan and regional services, giving trains to Victoria's regional cities their own set of tracks all the way into Southern Cross station.

A new track pair was built between Southern Cross and Sunshine station which included a new bridge over the Maribyrnong River, a flyover to separate regional and Werribee/Williamstown line metropolitan services and Footscray and Sunshine stations saw major works with the addition of two new platforms.  

The new track railway corridor from Deer Park to West Werribee was built through rural properties and, at the time, fledging development occurring around Tarneit, Truganina and Wyndham Vale.

Fast forward to today and patronage has boomed on the Geelong line, mostly due to the stations built on the new railway corridor that attract passengers from the newly built suburbs.

<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/geelong_line_patronage_boom1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Geelong Line patronage has boomed thanks to suburban passengers at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="459" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/geelong_line_patronage_boom1.png?itok=t853WqKV" title="Geelong Line patronage has boomed thanks to suburban passengers at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Geelong Line patronage has boomed thanks to suburban passengers at Tarneit and Wyndham Vale. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>Last year's state election saw the ALP release a policy - the Western Rail Plan - one month out from the election to invest even more money into more heavy rail public transport services for the west that would achieve two goals: separating regional and metropolitan services further through the growth areas and speeding up services to Geelong and Ballarat.

In 2019's state budget, $100 million was set aside for the business case/reference design.  This work is underway in parallel with the business case for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link which will be released in 2020.

Published documents on the Victorian Government's Big Build <a href="https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/333705/Western-Rail-Plan.pdf">website</a> highlight the complex inter-relations with the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, Suburban Rail Loop and Western Rail Plan and recent reporting elsewhere indicates stakeholders are debating whether to build an enabling component for the wholesale upgrade of railways in Western Melbourne.

<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/western-rail-plan_pdf.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Heavy rail public transport projects in Melbourne. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="356" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/western-rail-plan_pdf.png?itok=u_UcMIIH" title="Heavy rail public transport projects in Melbourne. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Heavy rail public transport projects in Melbourne. Image: bigbuild.vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>The bone of contention - or more to the point: the one certain stakeholders want to debate through mainstream media - is the extra track pair labeled "New Sunshine to CBD access" in the map above.

Melbourne Airport Rail Link and faster trains to Geelong and Ballarat have an emphasis on speed, making journeys as quick as possible.  The Western Rail Plan has an emphasis on new, targetted services that will, like the Airport Link and less so the faster regional services, require more track to access the city.

The Geelong line's patronage figures since the opening of the Regional Rail Link have been boosted, fundamentally, by Melbourne Metropolitan commuters in outer Western Melbourne.  The Western Rail Plan seeks to shift those outer suburban passengers on to train services that are more appropriate: metropolitan services.

With those broad parameters in mind, it's been speculated that a tunnel from Sunshine to the city is the best solution to enable fast journeys to the regions and the airport while existing track - the regional rail track pair and the existing Sunbury line - then have room for expansion. For instance, the new Melton and Wyndham Vale services could possibly share the existing regional rail track pair with Bendigo V/Line services while Geelong, Ballarat and airport services use the new tunnel.

One can understand the desire to explore other options - like not building a tunnel and running more services on the existing track pairs - however we need only look to the Regional Rail Link and how it struggles to deal with outer suburban patronage growth.  Cool heads need to think clearly the long-term and what impact not building a tunnel will do to a metropolitan area whose centre of population is moving westward.

<a href="/news/an-overview-of-western-melbourne-precinct-structure-plans">On Monday we look</a> at the greenfields areas in Western Melbourne that will drive patronage growth.
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Western Melbourne's complex rail plan needs to be done right

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The Victorian State Government has awarded the contract, valued at $542.4 million, to an alliance of John Holland Group, Kellogg Brown &amp; Root and Metro Trains Melbourne to remove four level crossings and rebuild two stations on the Upfield railway line in Melbourne's north.

Renders and the overall design for the upgrade to the railway corridor were released in August and both stations to be rebuilt will be elevated above the current rail grade.  Similar to the Caulfield-Dandenong corridor, with the elevate of the railway lines, community spaces will be provided underneath the tracks.

Bell Street, Munro Street, Reynard Street and Moreland Road are the four level crossings that will be removed.

Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, is reported to have said to the Herald Sun the corridor is one of the narrowest in Melbourne and will require an extended occupation period.

Further investigative works and service relocations are scheduled to ramp up in the short term with major works beginning next year that will include a construction blitz that will shut down the rail corridor for three months.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="450" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7BEDJbszWvo" width="100%"></iframe>

As part of the community space improvements, the congested Upfield bike path will see an upgrade as well as a new pedestrian path added underneath the railway line.

The alliance that has been awarded the contract is also removing the High Street level crossing in Reservoir.  Like the soon-to-be-rebuilt Moreland and Coburg stations, Reservoir station will be elevated above the existing road level.

<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/east-end-entry.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="The new Reservoir station currently under construction. Image: Level Crossing Removal Authority"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="365" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/east-end-entry.jpg?itok=nzT5pSB6" title="The new Reservoir station currently under construction. Image: Level Crossing Removal Authority" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The new Reservoir station currently under construction. Image: Level Crossing Removal Authority</figcaption></figure>The inner-north region of Melbourne, predominantly centred on the City of Moreland is also home to the highest number of bicycle commuters thanks to the extensive off-road and on-road bike lanes leading to the adjacent City of Melbourne.

Coburg and Brunswick are two of Melbourne's redevelopment hotspots with both suburbs registering over 100 apartment and townhouse projects in the pipeline. <a href="/developments/coburg-vic-3058">Coburg is registering 38</a> new projects on Apartments.com.au's database, <a href="/developments/brunswick-vic-3056">Brunswick has 76</a>.  

If you expand the search parameters to include to both <a href="/developments/brunswick-east-vic-3057">Brunswick East</a> and <a href="/developments/brunswick-west-vic-3055">Brunswick West</a>, the total number for all three 'Brunswicks' expands to 143 apartment and townhouse projects in the pipeline.

<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/519-537-sydney-road-coburg-cbc83648268f96d2d96be4ee646d9065.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="519-537 Sydney Road, Coburg."><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="354" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/519-537-sydney-road-coburg-cbc83648268f96d2d96be4ee646d9065.jpg?itok=4aWGfcrG" title="519-537 Sydney Road, Coburg." width="580"></a>

<figcaption><a href="/new-apartments/519-537-sydney-road-coburg">519-537 Sydney Road, Coburg</a>.</figcaption></figure>In the long run, the Upfield corridor is likely to see other infrastructure changes that are linked to future railway projects in the area.

Namely, the Suburban Rail Loop's second phase will see a station interface with the Upfield line to the north of Coburg and also plans leaked to the media prior to the November 2018 state election show the Upfield line extending to Wallan via Roxburgh Park.

Bell Street, Munro Street, Reynard Street and Moreland Road level crossings are all set to be removed by late 2020 and the new open space will be ready in 2021.
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$542.4 million contract signed for level crossing removals in Melbourne's north

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<h2>Comment</h2>

The Victorian Government, freshly re-elected a year ago for another term, has a very large program of public transport projects that will impact on various suburban centres over the next few decades. 

Arden, Sunshine and Box Hill are three suburbs developers, property buyers and renters should keep an eye on.

The redevelopment of Arden will centre around a public transport project already under construction (Melbourne Metro) and Sunshine and Box Hill, based on publicly available information, will attract intense focus from projects that have their respective business cases underway (Melbourne Airport Rail Link and the Suburban Rail Loop).

The Melbourne Metro project that was initiated during the first term has recently entered the primary tunneling phase with two of four tunnel boring machines now working their way westward under the city.  The launching pad for the first two TBMs is located at the site of the future North Melbourne (née Arden) station, an area where the state government is a major landholder and one the state government has expressed an interest in 'doing things differently'.

In 2018 the Victorian Planning Authority released the <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/arden/">Arden Vision</a> which outlines how the "Victorian Government and the city of Melbourne are committed to preparing in partnership land use and transport planning frameworks to coordinate and guide planning to 2050".

According to the vision document, North Melbourne station will open in 2025 and major development of the land surrounding the new station will begin shortly thereafter.

<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/arden_vision_2018.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The Arden Vision. Image Vic.gov.au"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="409" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/arden_vision_2018.png?itok=kC-25X3b" title="The Arden Vision. Image Vic.gov.au" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Arden Vision. Image Vic.gov.au</figcaption></figure>Apart from the ongoing level crossing removal program, all other major public transport projects that are likely to leave an impact on land surrounding new stations are in various stages of planning and design.

Extending the Frankston railway line to Baxter has a business case under development expected to be completed by 2019.  Construction to duplicate the Cranbourne line will begin in 2021 with completion scheduled for 2023; the state government has also said this project is required before work can get underway to extend the Cranbourne line to Clyde.

The Melbourne Airport Rail Link, the Suburban Rail Loop, the Western Rail Plan and initiatives to speed up trains to Geelong and Ballarat are four inter-related projects that have all been appropriated funds from the state budget that will see reference designs and business cases completed over the next 12-18 months.

<h2>All railways lead to Sunshine</h2>

We've said it before, and we're saying it again - cast your gaze westward to Sunshine.  Excluding central Melbourne, no other suburb in metropolitan Melbourne will see as much intensive new rail infrastructure and services in the foreseeable future.

The Regional Rail Link project from a decade ago routed connections to Victoria's second, third and fourth-largest cities through Sunshine and the Western Rail Plan looks set to expand on regional and metropolitan rail separation possibly through the quadruplication and (partial) electrification of railways between Sunshine and Deer Park, Deer Park to Wyndham Vale and Deer Park to Melton.

The Melbourne Airport Rail Link had its route confirmed via Sunshine and what's known as the 'Albion corridor' (the stretch of railway used primarily for freight between Albion station and Broadmeadows station) and Sunshine likewise appears on maps for the Suburban Rail Loop.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/sunshine-vic?embeddable=list-map" width="100%"></iframe>

If the Melbourne Airport Rail Link, Suburban Rail Loop, Western Rail Plan and higher-speed trains to Geelong and Ballarat proceed - whether all at the same time or in a sequential fashion - Sunshine will have the best suburban connectivity to other parts of the metropolitan area and regional Victoria.

<h2>Box Hill is already flying high</h2>

Box Hill has always garnered our interest.  The railway lines that run through Box Hill on their way to the city are unlike other major corridors like Dandenong and Sunshine because there will be minimal greenfields development within the Lilydale and Belgrave branch catchments.

In short, the only population growth throughout the whole eastern corridor can only be catered for through higher-density development.  And the numbers speak for themselves.

Box Hill has at least 35 projects contained within a 1 square kilometre grid centred around the Box Hill station and Box Hill Central shopping centre.  Further up the line at Ringwood, where both Lilydale and Belgrave lines converge to provide a very high frequency of service all the way through the inner and middle rings of eastern Melbourne, has at least <a href="/developments/ringwood-vic-3134">19 high-density projects</a> in the pipeline.

<iframe frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="https://www.urban.com.au/developments/box-hill-vic?embeddable=list-map" width="100%"></iframe>

The Victorian Premier has already publicly announced the Suburban Rail Loop, despite its business case and reference design currently underway, will be split in two phases through the east and north of the metropolitan area.  The first phase will run from Cheltenham on the Frankston line to Box Hill, servicing Clayton, Monash University and employment precinct, Glen Waverley and Deakin University located just south of Box Hill.

The second phase of the Suburban Rail Loop extending from Box Hill to Tullamarine Airport would then create a major node, accessible to and from the north, south, east and west via heavy rail, in an area that already has a large concentration of jobs and retail activity and an area that already supports major increases in residential density.

We'll be watching the release of each public transport business case with great interest.

Lead image credit: metrotunnel.vic.gov.au
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Arden, Sunshine and Box Hill: three Melbourne suburbs to watch 

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The New South Wales Government has confirmed the location of 7 stations for the upcoming Sydney Metro West that will run between Sydney's CBD and Westmead, adding significant capacity to the rail network between Sydney and Parramatta.

The 7 confirmed station locations include Westmead, Parramatta, Sydney Olympic Park, North Strathfield, Burwood North, Five Dock, and The Bays Precinct.

Investigations are still ongoing for the Sydney CBD station and possibly adding two more stations - one in Rydalmere and the other in Pyrmont.

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="500" scrolling="no" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/do_N9uHFzJI" width="100%"></iframe>

The station location confirmation announcement follows Transport for NSW representatives having begun door knocking on residents door's notifying them the state government intends to acquire their property to make way for components of the project.

Construction is set to begin in 2020 and according to the project's overview, will then be followed by the Sydney Metro Greater West (formerly known as the North-South Link) outer western metro line linking St. Mary's and the new Western Sydney Airport.

The 'aerotropolis' located south of the new Nancy-Bird Walton Airport will also be connected with the St. Mary's link and the Sydney Metro West line may at some stage run all the way out to the airport as well.

<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/1uf2199.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Confirmed and potential station locations for Sydney Metro West"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="320" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/1uf2199.jpg?itok=DJqvsBUZ" title="Confirmed and potential station locations for Sydney Metro West" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Confirmed and potential station locations for Sydney Metro West</figcaption></figure>The focus on speed rather than more stations on Sydney Metro West becomes more obvious when viewed in context of plans for the Sydney basin over the next few decades.

Preliminary costs reported in other media have put the price tag for the Sydney CBD to Westmead Sydney Metro West at $10billion and some reports have suggested the price could be as high as $20 billion.

The business case for the project has not been released at this stage and will eventually go a long way to informing the public of the project's cost.

<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/sydney_metro_west_context1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Wider context of the new metro line. Sydney Metro West Project Overview, page 4"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="345" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/sydney_metro_west_context1.png?itok=wYWD2hbR" title="Wider context of the new metro line. Sydney Metro West Project Overview, page 4" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Wider context of the new metro line. <a href="https://www.sydneymetro.info/sites/default/files/document-library/Sydney_Metro_West_Project_Overview_Booklet_October_2019.pdf">Sydney Metro West Project Overview, page 4</a></figcaption></figure>Boom times for Australian railway building.
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NSW Government confirms Sydney Metro West's station locations

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It’s that time again. Congestion charging discussion is back in the public realm and this time the experts have nominated a price and a - pardon the pun - road map to overhauling the road pricing regime in Australian cities.

The first phase, according to the Grattan Institute, should be introduced within 5 years and would introduce a cordon charge around CBDs.  This would operate similarly to how the London and Singapore congestion charges were introduced.

The report's authors have nominated $5 as the one-way charge for private vehicles entering the cordon.  For those that drive to the city, park, go to work and then drive home this, naturally, would represent a $10 return trip charge.

<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/grattan_melb_cordon.png" rel="gallery-all" title="From the Grattan Institute's report titled &quot;Right time, right place, right price&quot;. Page 12"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="403" src="/s3/files/styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/grattan_melb_cordon.png?itok=ATBTjR-l" title="From the Grattan Institute's report titled &quot;Right time, right place, right price&quot;. Page 12" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>From the Grattan Institute's report titled "Right time, right place, right price". <a href="https://grattan.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/924-Right-time-right-place-right-price-high-res.pdf">Page 12</a></figcaption></figure>Furthermore, the Grattan Institute says the cordon charge of $5 should only apply from 8 am to 9:30 am and between 4 pm and 6 pm in the afternoon peak with lower charges at either side of the peak periods.

Beyond the initial CBD cordon charging regime, the Grattan Institute recommends applying charges to key arterial routes. 

The arterial charges would apply on a per-kilometre basis on weekday mornings and afternoon peak periods, apply only in the peak direction, use enhance number plate recognition technology and include a fairness test and package to ensure vulnerable people are not disadvantaged.

Arterial charges would be introduced within 5 years of a successful CBD cordon charging regime.

Finally, the Grattan Institue recommends state governments should investigate costs and benefits of whole-of-network-based distance-based charging, presumably to replace the existing registration regime.

<h2>COMMENT</h2>

Calls for 'congestion charging' or 'road-pricing regime change' are not new. State Governments tend to dismiss those calls, just like they have with the latest release of research from the Grattan Institute.

Perhaps governments know that public transport networks couldn't cope with extra passengers if it was introduced in the very short-term, perhaps it's purely about the politics of change.

Regardless, this time around, the Grattan Institute has sought to address some of the often-used concerns - especially around the equity argument.

The institute’s research suggests of the 61,000 people who drive to work in Melbourne’s CBD, the majority of people have a weekly income of $1500 or more and are driving from the inner and middle rings of Melbourne’s suburbs.

The Grattan Institute says 45% of workers driving to the city have an annual income of $104,000 or more. In Sydney, that rises to 57%.

Notwithstanding tram capacity improvement projects, the biggest public transport capacity-increasing projects on the horizon in Melbourne is the Melbourne Metro project which will take three lines out of the city loop creating capacity for 3 other lines to increase services. 

We know the Melbourne Metro project will be delivered by 2025 and in Sydney a similar major capacity increase for its CBD is underway with the Sydney Metro City &amp; Southwest set to begin operations in 2024.

Notice those timeframes fit somewhat neatly with Grattan's call for the introduction of cordon charge within 5 years. 

Fast forward to 2024/2025, the Victorian Government in power at that time will look a bit silly if it rolls out the "the best way to ease congestion is to build a public transport network system which can deliver more trains, more often – and we’re getting it done" if the calls for congestion charging are still being made.
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The Grattan Institute nominates congestion charging rates for Melbourne

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Regardless of who wins the upcoming New South Wales state election on March 23rd, the proposal for Sydney Metro West looks set to be fast-tracked with the NSW Liberals and Premier Gladys Berejiklian committing to get construction underway by 2020.

This follows an earlier commitment - announced in February - from NSW Labor to fast-track the construction of the second metro line as well as spend $8 billion on the project.

The New South Wales Liberal Party announced over the weekend that Sydney Metro West proposal will kick off construction in 2020 should the coalition win this month's state election on the 23rd of March.

The caretaker and election-period announcement also included the NSW Liberal party promising to bring the public funding up to $6.4 billion.

The first phase of the Sydney Metro is set to open this year running from Tallawong/Rouse Hill in the out northwest to Chatswood.  The second phase, which is well underway, will run from Chatswood under the harbour and through the CBD to Sydenham where the existing inner-west line will be converted to handle metro services to Blacktown.

NSW Labor has vowed to halt the conversion of the inner-west line between Sydenham and Blacktown.

Sydney Metro West is the second line of a new, separate rail network proposed for the Sydney region that will initially connect Sydney's CBD with Westmead, adding more rail capacity between Sydney and Parramatta.

One of the key benefits to be spruiked by the NSW Government is that journey times between Parramatta and central Sydney will reduce to 20 minutes.  Likewise, key locations between the two endpoints will also see new stations including at Sydney Olympic Park, Five Dock and The Bays Precinct.

A connection to the T1 line will be made at Strathfield North and a potential station may be built in Pyrmont.

The NSW state election is to be held on Saturday, March 23rd. 
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NSW Liberal party commits to kicking off construction in 2020 on Sydney Metro West

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Train services which operate along railway lines in Melbourne's south-east will be shut down for three weeks over the Easter school holiday period to allow for major works to be carried out on the eastern portal for the Melbourne Metro Tunnel.

With one Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) already landed and another shortly to arrive, two more TBMs will also be arriving in Melbourne, launching from the Anzac Station site, located just behind the Shrine of Remembrance.

The two remaining TBMs that are yet to appear on the project's <a href="https://metrotunnel.vic.gov.au/construction/building-the-tunnels-and-stations/tunnel-boring-machines/tbm-tracker">website</a>, according to publicly available information, first head toward the eastern portal at South Yarra once they are launched.

The Easter school holiday shutdown will mark the commencement of major works - the breaking ground of the tunnel portal - in South Yarra and will also be the site where the final two TBMs will be extracted once they've completed their run from Anzac Station.

Pakenham, Cranbourne, Frankston and Sandringham lines will all have trains replaced with buses - from the city to each of the respective termini - over a 3 week period from the 1st of April to the 23rd of April. The first week of the shutdown will occur in the final week of Term 1 at Victorian schools.

Gippsland VLine services, which share track with the Pakenham line, will also have a total 'bustitution' and the Premier announced that Glen Waverley, Mernda and Geelong/Warrnambool lines will also be closed during this period for other level crossings and ongoing upgrade works.

The Mernda line shutdown will allow major level crossings removal works to kick off at Reservoir Station and similarly on the Frankston line, major works will proceed at the site of the Carrum level crossing removal.

The various shut downs and bustitutions that will befall the Eastern school holiday period are estimated to add 60 minutes onto most journeys throughout the metropolitan and regional networks.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/metrotunnel/photos/pcb.2332368913652035/2332368620318731/?type=3&amp;theater">Metro Tunnel on facebook</a>.
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Widespread shut down for Melbourne's metro and regional railway lines over Easter holidays

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The Level Crossing on Toorak Road on the Glen Waverley line, adjacent to the Monash Freeway interchange, will be removed by construction a 550m long rail bridge in the existing rail corridor.

The Premier and Minister for Transport Infrastructure were on site this morning to announce major works will commence on the new structure this year with completion expected by 2021.

160,000 passengers use the Glen Waverley railway line per week as well as 37,000 vehicles per day using Toorak Road. The new rail bridge will be located 9m above the existing road level.

Only two level crossings on the Glen Waverley railway line were earmarked for removal with Gardiner Station which included a tram+train crossing having been removed during the first term of the Andrews Government.

Toorak Road is the second and final on the list of 75 level crossings.  Glenferrie Road at Kooyong Station also includes a tram+train crossing and there are two more level crossings not included in the list, Tooronga Road at Tooronga Station and High Street at Glen Iris station.

<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/carrum1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Aerial render of the new elevated rail structure at new station at Carrum. Image: LXRA"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="363" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/carrum1.jpg?itok=iA6DDzpK" title="Aerial render of the new elevated rail structure at new station at Carrum. Image: LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Aerial render of the new elevated rail structure at new station at Carrum. Image: LXRA</figcaption></figure>Meanwhile, major works have kicked off at Carrum station where three level crossings will be removed by elevating railway track through the area while also providing a new Carrum station.

Early works, including moving electrical and water services as well as new signalling on the Frankston line, have been underway for some time and closure of existing car parks at Carrum station will start in March and last for the length of the construction period.

Temporary rail track will be built between the Patterson River and Eel Race Road so trains can continue running through the area while the permanent elevated rail structure and station is under construction.

During this time, Carrum station will be closed and buses will shuttle passenger either northwards to Bonbeach or southwards to Seaford.  

The new elevated rail structure and station is expected to be open in 2020 and a government media release states that 1.2 hectares worth of new community space is included in the Carrum project.
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Toorak Road level crossing on the Glen Waverley line to be removed

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The first of Melbourne Metro's TBMs has completed its sea voyage from China and arrived at the North Melbourne (née Arden) launch site where it will begin its journey underground shortly.

Tunnel Boring Machines around the world are given female names and the first TBM for Melbourne Metro will be named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Kirner">Joan Kirner</a>, after Victoria's first female premier.

Joan Kirner served as the ALP member for Williamstown and was elected leader of the parliamentary Labor party in 1990 and served as premier until October 1992.

The second TBM will be named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meg_Lanning">Meg Lanning</a> who captains the Australian women's national cricket team.  The third TBM will be named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alice_Ross-King">Alice Appleford</a>, a civilian and military nurse during both world wars.

The fourth and final TBM to be launched for the Melbourne Metro project will be named for <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millie_Peacock">Millie Peacock</a>, Victoria's first female MP.

<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/tbm_mm.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Sequencing of the various stages for tunnelling on the Melbourne Metro project. Image: Melbourne Metro"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="347" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/tbm_mm.png?itok=WQzHiTGT" title="Sequencing of the various stages for tunnelling on the Melbourne Metro project. Image: Melbourne Metro" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Sequencing of the various stages for tunneling on the Melbourne Metro project. Image: Melbourne Metro</figcaption></figure>As each TBM arrives at their respective launch site, they will begin their tunneling journeys by heading towards the eastern or western portals in South Yarra or Kensington respectively.

Once that let of the journey is complete, the TBMs will be disassembled and trucked back to the launch site where they will then be reassembled and set on their way toward the CBD stations at State Library or Town Hall.

State Library and Town Hall stations, as well as the tunnel between the two, will be constructed using road headers, which crushed their first rock under Swanston street in late <a href="/news/cbd-metro-tunnel-station-construction-begins">November 2018</a>.

According to the updated TBM tracker on the Metro Tunnel website, the second TBM - Meg, is well on its way from China and at the time of posting is on a ship sailing down the east coast of Australia.

The Melbourne Metro project is scheduled to be complete with train services operational by 2025.
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Melbourne Metro's first TBM arrives, named after Victoria's first female premier

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> has lodged plans for a $750 million, three-tower mixed-use precinct that would complete the long-running redevelopment of Carlton's former Carlton United Breweries site.

The proposal at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/185-195-queensberry-street-carlton-vic-3053">46-78 Bouverie Street and 185-195 Queensberry Street</a> spans a 6,468 sqm site, the last remaining undeveloped parcels within the former brewery's 2007 masterplan.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the development will comprise two purpose-built student accommodation towers and a third build-to-sell apartment tower above a shared commercial podium and basement.

Across the three towers, SP Setia is proposing 606 build-to-sell apartments and 1,499 student accommodation units containing 2,009 beds.

The apartments will sit in the tallest tower, which will rise nearly 200m and 55 storeys. It will become&nbsp;one of the more substantial new build-to-sell apartment projects at the northern edge of Melbourne's CBD.

The apartment mix is weighted toward smaller inner-city product, with 188 studios, 206 one-bedroom apartments, 192 two-bedroom apartments and 20 three-bedroom apartments

<img alt="First look: SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="8271bc87-1b0a-41b7-ac73-a425ee375261" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/3_2.png?VersionId=G4lw23o90B1boX4k4dj7rdz2ZEajS9wy" />

Part of the precinct will be a large-scale&nbsp;3,684 sqm supermarket and a further 2,198 sqm of speciality retail, creating close to 5,900 sqm of new commercial space within the precinct.

But one of the biggest components of the proposal is what sits between the buildings.

Around 4,650 sqm, or roughly 72 per cent of the site, will be publicly accessible open space, incorporating plazas, pedestrian connections, landscaped laneways and retail spill-out areas.

The ground plane is intended to finally complete pedestrian connections envisaged when the CUB masterplan was first approved nearly two decades ago, stitching together Victoria Street, Queensberry Street, Bouverie Street and Swanston Street through the former brewery precinct.

Urbis said the development would "complete the CUB precinct", with the public realm providing important north-south and east-west connections through what is currently the final undeveloped portion of the masterplanned site.

SP Setia is also exploring a new linear park within the Bouverie Street road reserve, with the concept to be developed further with the City of Melbourne through the planning process.

The proposal is being pursued through the Victorian Government's Development Facilitation Program under Clause 53.23 for significant residential development with affordable housing.

The planning report acknowledges the proposed heights exceed those contemplated under the original Comprehensive Development Plan and masterplan, but argues the built-form context has changed considerably over the past two decades.

Urbis said the three towers would instead create a stepped transition between Carlton and the Hoddle Grid, rising progressively from the 94.1-metre Tower One along the Queensberry Street edge to the 199.44-metre Tower Three closer to the established CBD-scale buildings to the south.

<img alt="SP Setia" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e885a07a-592c-40fc-bf82-e6dbaf32da54" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.52.24%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=7s_ErUkSKAdY1mAWp3GRZgMNCGtwhk5m" />

SP Setia plans to deliver the development across three stages.

Stage One would deliver the basement, podium and retail areas for the entire precinct alongside the first student tower. Tower Two would follow in Stage Two, before the 606-apartment Tower Three is delivered as the final stage.

If approved and delivered, the project would close out a redevelopment process that has been underway since the former brewery masterplan was approved in 2007, adding more than 2,600 student beds and apartments to a precinct already home to Swanston Central, the Barak Building, RMIT Design Hub and several large student accommodation developments.

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

Joel Robinson

SP Setia plans three-tower finale for Carlton’s former CUB precinct

Melbourne developer Lowe Living is seeking to add to its growing bayside apartment pipeline, filing plans for a boutique eight-residence development in tightly held Middle Park.

Lowe Living, which has built much of its development portfolio across Melbourne's affluent bayside and south-east suburbs, is behind the plans for the 730 sqm site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/123-125-erskine-street-middle-park-vic-3206">123-125 Erskine Street</a>, just off Armstrong Street and within the Armstrong Street Neighbourhood Activity Centre.

The developer is seeking approval for a five-storey residential building above two basement levels, with just eight large-format apartments and 18 car spaces.

<img alt="Lowe " data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="875fe572-0f14-4d90-9e11-55b28dd07731" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.42.49%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=GDNQRv9BfpR9r1zkZ5UDyUM4ZvpIksut" />

The low-density proposal has been designed by Cera Stribley and is being progressed through the Victorian Government's Great Design Fast Track pathway, having already secured eligibility from the Minister for Planning.

The Office of the Victorian Government Architect supported its eligibility after finding the proposal demonstrated consistency with the program's seven design principles, while the project's financial feasibility has also been independently confirmed by Invest Victoria.

The project is targeting the downsizer market, with the planning documents describing the homes as larger-format residences and noting the two penthouses could otherwise have been configured as four separate apartments.

<img alt="Lowe 2" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="60ab0987-2da6-4175-adac-315dcf6053c6" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.15%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=bOCPH0B2MFwlmaRW.TTCF9TzyifgVoQI" />

The site has dual frontage to Erskine Street and Canterbury Place and currently comprises a collection of commercial buildings used as offices, including a former heritage bakehouse, a former stable, a later gabled addition and a central courtyard.

It sits within the Commercial 1 Zone and the Armstrong Street Commercial Precinct heritage overlay, with the existing property classified as a contributory heritage place.

Heritage has subsequently played a significant role in Cera Stribley's design.

The front section of the former bakehouse facing Erskine Street will be retained, including its return walls, street-facing hipped roof and chimneys, while the Erskine Street façade and part of the western return wall of the former stable will also be incorporated into the new development.

Levels four and five will be set back five metres from the retained stable façade, while bricks removed through demolition are proposed to be salvaged and reused within the new building where possible.

<img alt="Lowe 3" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e97927a9-a2de-4a0f-83b6-65451238abfa" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Screenshot%202026-08-21%20at%208.43.06%E2%80%AFAM.png?VersionId=VR44AChLrX9q1XPB9GvVQV.ALXXbe4gC" />

Rather than presenting as a single five-storey building to Erskine Street, Cera Stribley has broken the development into a series of distinct forms.

A three-storey infill element will sit between the retained bakehouse and stable façades, with the upper levels recessed behind the heritage fabric. Canterbury Place will similarly feature two three-storey podium forms, separated by a central pedestrian accessway, before the upper two levels step back from the street.

A pedestrian through-link will run through the centre of the project between Erskine Street and Canterbury Place, creating entrances from both sides of the site and introducing landscaping and communal areas through the ground plane.

Landscape architect Acre has designed planting across the ground level, private terraces and upper levels, including a feature canopy tree at level three and integrated planting and arbours across the level four terraces. Five existing Erskine Street trees are proposed to be retained.

Sustainability is also a significant component of the Great Design Fast Track application. The apartments are targeting an average eight-star NatHERS rating, with no residence below 6.5 stars, while the project has achieved a 75 per cent BESS score. Seven of the eight apartments are designed for cross-ventilation, with the remaining residence using mechanically assisted natural ventilation.

The plans also incorporate an 8kWp rooftop solar system, a 5,000-litre rainwater tank and infrastructure allowing future electric vehicle charging for every residence.

Lowe has a strong portfolio across Melbourne's blue-chip suburbs. They recently launched <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/jardin-house-by-lowe-living-camberwell-335-camberwell-road-camberwell-vic-3124">Jardin House by Lowe Living</a> in Camberwell, their first development in the Stonnington LGA.

Lowe Living unveils Middle Park apartment development

Article summary

<ul data-end="888" data-start="289">
	<li data-end="442" data-section-id="8tsh6o" data-start="289">DVB Projects is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway at 137 Old Burleigh Road, Broadbeach.</li>
	<li data-end="573" data-section-id="1nyxl3e" data-start="443">The 34-level tower will comprise just 49 ultra-luxury residences, including half-floor, full-floor and penthouse apartments.</li>
	<li data-end="717" data-section-id="oiyimj" data-start="574">The launch follows strong demand at DVB's nearby Sea Glass project, which is more than 50 per cent sold and currently under construction.</li>
	<li data-end="888" data-section-id="epk9o9" data-start="718">The development adds to the transformation of Old Burleigh Road, with premium beachfront apartment projects continuing to reshape the tightly held Broadbeach strip.</li>
</ul>

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/dvb-projects">DVB Projects</a> is preparing to launch its second Gold Coast apartment development, with demolition now underway on the Broadbeach site as the Sydney developer moves closer to bringing the ultra-luxury project to market.

The 34-level tower at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/137-old-burleigh-road-broadbeach-qld-4218">137 Old Burleigh Road</a> will comprise just 49 residences, ranging from half-floor apartments through to full-floor homes and a penthouse. The launch follows the strong sales performance of DVB's nearby Sea Glass development. More than half of the apartments at Sea Glass, on the other side of Broadbeach, have been snapped up, well ahead of its late 2027 completion

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2944b4be-c84e-4b54-8dc1-c712e76704c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E02_Exterior_Street%20Level%20Entrance.jpg?VersionId=YoNig7pRdrE3HCue7sUj78LzJteeQf3H" />

The start of demolition at 137 Old Burleigh Road signals DVB Projects’ underlying confidence in the Gold Coast’s luxury beachside apartment sector.

“We see the Gold Coast as one of the most compelling lifestyle markets in Australia, particularly at the premium end where demand continues to deepen,” said Dean Brown, Managing Director of DVB.&nbsp;

“This project has been carefully designed to respond to that demand - delivering large-format residences with a level of quality, privacy and amenity that is still relatively rare in the apartment market on the beachside."

Brown says the site itself is "exceptional."

"Old Burleigh Road is one of the most tightly held beachfront strips, and opportunities to deliver a project of this scale and calibre in this location are extremely limited.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="398f377a-c037-455e-9250-0c5e0d84c35b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/I12_FF%20Balcony.jpg?VersionId=NwOiRWGMubR1c8wthuEfggklcja7al9." />

The project will comprise 40 half-floor residences of approximately 260 sqm, alongside eight full-floor residences spanning around 524 sqm.

A single penthouse will crown the building, featuring a private pool, barbecue area, indoor gym and dedicated entertaining spaces.

Residents will have access to a resort-style suite of amenities, including a 20-metre pool with daybeds, a gymnasium, hot and cold plunge pools, a sauna, and private residents’ lounge and dining facilities.

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d1642bb0-9a66-4427-a022-dfc0988c6287" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/A02_Pool%20to%20View.jpg?VersionId=c0IXPyn_Gp_Kn3XCwzMrqIVkAdCEwVXP" />

Sales agent Todd Matheson, of <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/project-marketer/pezet-matheson">Pezet Matheson</a>, which is marketing both 137 Old Burleigh Road and Sea Glass, said 137 Old Burleigh Road would address a clear gap in the market for genuine luxury products.

“There are very few opportunities on the Gold Coast where buyers can secure a residence of this size and quality in a new building,” Matheson said.

“What we’re seeing is a growing cohort of downsizers and interstate buyers who still want space - they’re not willing to compromise on living area, entertaining or finishes.

“This project has been designed with that buyer in mind. It offers the scale of a home, combined with the convenience and security of apartment living, in one of the coast’s most desirable positions.”

<img alt="DVB Projects to commence demolition on $320m Broadbeach luxury tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="59aae0ca-5639-4320-8aca-d0bf60f48e43" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/E01_Exterior%20Hero.jpg?VersionId=DS8Zfy2WtgUEtdfe0TEUuf1W1GfcZq8S" />

Located on a 1,156 sqm site one block from the beachfront, the development will replace an ageing walk-up building and is expected to contribute to the ongoing transformation of the Old Burleigh Road strip into one of the Gold Coast’s most prestigious residential corridors.

With the development moving into the delivery phase, 137 Old Burleigh Road is slated to hit the market later this year.

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=145141]

DVB Projects to launch second Broadbeach apartment tower as demolition commences

<a data-end="327" data-is-only-node="" data-start="250" href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/norus-projects" rel="noopener" target="_new">Norus Developments</a> has lodged plans for a new apartment development in Clayton that would add further momentum to the suburb's emerging Green Street corridor.

Plans have been lodged for the consolidated site at <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/1359-1365-centre-road-clayton-vic-3168">1359-1365 Centre Road</a>, where Norus is seeking approval for 218 apartments across a 12-storey apartment building designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/life-architecture-and-urban-design">Life Architecture</a>.

The proposal sits within the Clayton Major Activity Centre at the threshold of the planned Green Street corridor, a landscaped pedestrian connection intended to improve links through the precinct towards Clayton Railway Station.

The development would replace the site's existing collection of low-scale residential and commercial buildings with a single consolidated building, introducing significantly greater housing density to this part of Centre Road.

A retail tenancy is proposed at ground level to activate the Centre Road frontage, accompanied by transparent street interfaces and landscaping intended to create a more pedestrian-focused edge to the development.

<img alt="First look: Norus Developments plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="0a5a763a-d9e9-4253-af2f-88008de27ebf" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Clayton%20a.png?VersionId=S2WJJbat1XVkZwB9SnYtygirXgWHiklX" />

The building has been designed with stepped massing and upper-level setbacks to manage its transition towards surrounding residential properties. The planning report describes the approach as one that integrates the building into the landscape rather than treating landscaping as a secondary element.

"A strong landscape and public realm strategy underpins the proposal," Urbis states in the planning report.

"Public benefits include an affordable housing contribution, a new pocket park, generous landscaped setbacks, deep soil planting and integrated Water Sensitive Urban Design."

The report adds that these elements are intended to create "a permeable, pedestrian-focused ground plane that enhances walkability, supports urban cooling and reinforces the emerging Green Street character."

Biophilic and passive design principles extend through the residential levels, with planting, daylight, natural ventilation and views towards landscaped areas forming part of the amenity strategy.

Parking would be concentrated away from the public realm, with 145 car spaces proposed from the rear laneway rather than dominating the Centre Road frontage.

The proposal follows an extensive pre-application process with the City of Monash. Three formal meetings were held between the project team and Council from December 2025 to March 2026, with the scheme evolving through several concept iterations before the current design was lodged.

The project arrives as Clayton prepares for substantial change around its established activity centre and the wider Suburban Rail Loop precinct. Its position on Centre Road places the development within an existing concentration of shops, services and public transport, while the Green Street connection is intended to strengthen pedestrian access towards Clayton Railway Station.

First look: Norus plans landscape-led apartment project for Clayton’s emerging Green Street

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/gardner-vaughan-group">Gardner Vaughan Group</a> has officially commenced construction on Bronze on Chevron, celebrating the sod turning of its first-ever Gold Coast development and marking a significant milestone in the company's continued expansion across South East Queensland.&nbsp;

Following the successful delivery of premium residential developments throughout Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bronze-on-chevron-8-mawarra-street-chevron-island-qld-4217">Bronze on Chevron</a> represents Gardner Vaughan Group's entry into the Gold Coast market. Bronze will deliver 119 one, two, three and four-bedroom apartments above two ground-level retail tenancies.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367193]

The recent sod turning ceremony was attended by Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, President of the Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club, Cassandra Sedgman, project consultants, purchasers, project partners and invited guests to celebrate the commencement of construction.&nbsp;

Gardner Vaughan Group Chief Executive Officer Simon Betteridge said Bronze on Chevron represented an exciting new chapter for the business.&nbsp;

"We've spent almost four decades building homes that respond to the way people want to live, and we're excited to bring that experience to <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developments/chevron-island-qld-4217">Chevron Island</a>," Betteridge said.

"Bronze on Chevron is particularly significant because it marks Gardner Vaughan Group's first development on the Gold Coast following many successful projects across Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast."

[smartcode_project:default project_id=107520 project_image_fid=367183]

Betteridge said the ground breaking is a proud moment for the&nbsp;team and their purchasers, who can now see their future homes beginning to take shape.&nbsp;

"As both developer and builder, we're able to oversee every aspect of the project from design through to construction, ensuring the quality and attention to detail Gardner Vaughan Group has become renowned for."&nbsp;

Designed by acclaimed architectural practice <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cottee-parker-architects">Cottee Parker</a>, Bronze on Chevron has been thoughtfully designed to complement Chevron Island's evolving streetscape while embracing its relaxed coastal lifestyle.

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029.&nbsp;

[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=107520]

The development will offer generous residences with refined interiors, premium finishes and resort-style amenities, with completion anticipated in early 2029

Alastair Taylor

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