The residential transformation of St Kilda Road is set to continue into with more new apartment plans for the sought-after boulevard.

Wing Tai Asia has lodged plans for a major residential tower at 464-466 St Kilda Road, replacing the former VACC House with an 18-storey mixed-use development designed around a retained heritage podium and a sculpted contemporary tower.

The proposal, prepared under Victoria’s Significant Residential Development with Affordable Housing pathway, would deliver 325 apartments and ground-floor retail across the prominent 4,653 sqm boulevard site in Melbourne’s St Kilda Road North Precinct.

The project centres on the adaptive reuse of the site’s heritage-listed VACC Building, an eight-storey office designed by Bernard Evans that has occupied the address for decades. Planning documents state the development would involve “carefully dismantling and conserving off-site the original metal fabric of the podium visible from St Kilda Road,” before reinstating it as the defining frontage of the new scheme.

Above the restored podium, Wing Tai is proposing a curvilinear residential tower. The scheme includes 172 one-bedroom apartments, 63 two-bedroom apartments, 66 three-bedroom apartments, and 24 four-bedroom apartments, alongside two ground-floor food and beverage tenancies fronting St Kilda Road.

The tower has been designed with substantial articulation and variable setbacks to minimise perceived bulk and maintain view corridors along the boulevard. Urbis, which prepared the planning report, said the design “has been significantly articulated through a curvilinear design” with “an interplay with materials, façade expression and depth” to create visual separation and visual interest.

The proposal also includes 254 basement car spaces, landscaped pedestrian links connecting St Kilda Road and Queens Lane, and a biophilic landscape strategy featuring canopy trees, raised planters, cascading greenery and a glass oculus pool overlooking the eastern frontage.

Planning documents confirm the $270.1 million development will contribute 3 per cent of project costs to the Social Housing Growth Fund as part of the application process.

Wing Tai acquired the St Kilda Road property in 2018 alongside Abacus Property Group for $95.38 million, before later consolidating ownership of the site. The property previously served as the Victorian Automobile Chamber of Commerce headquarters for around 60 years.

The transformation of the St Kilda Rd boulevard is already beginning to materialise, with a number of high-profile projects recently completed, launched, or approaching launch as developers continue to back the long-term appeal of the precinct.

Among the most notable recent completions is Louise by Samuel Property Group, just off the strip on Queens Lane, the same pocket Hirsch &amp; Faigen recently launched The Queensbury. Mirvac is too on the same street with The Albertine, which is approaching completion.

Dexus recently secured approval for its slice of St Kilda Road, while Gurner also has approved plans for the precinct.

Joel Robinson

Wing Tai unveils 325-apartment St Kilda Road tower on former VACC House site

Malaysian developer <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/s-p-setia">SP Setia</a> is the latest to jump into St Leonards booming Transport Oriented Development precinct.

The developer, which has previously delivered Sapphire by the Gardens apartment development in Melbourne, identified the Atchison Street site in 2023. It filed a Scoping Report around 12 months ago, and now has revealed the designs for the new&nbsp;40-storey mixed-use tower.

The State Significant Development Application covers <a href="https://next-portal.urban.com.au/projects/14650/summary">20-22 Atchison Street</a>, a 1,374 sqm site positioned between St Leonards Station and the new Crows Nest Metro station.

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/cox-architecture">COX Architecture</a>, the project would deliver 181 apartments, above a four-storey commercial podium, five basement levels, and new public domain works along Mitchell Street. The apartment mix comprises 35 one-bedroom apartments, 39 one-bedroom-plus-study apartments, 85 two-bedroom apartments, and 22 three-bedroom residences.

The proposal has been lodged as a shop-top housing development under the NSW Government’s TOD planning pathway, which allows increased density around key transport infrastructure. The site sits within the recently rezoned Crows Nest Accelerated TOD Precinct.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b799673d-48e2-46b0-801a-0e33a9330100" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20site.png?VersionId=dPh0UfwfaHpbFL1R7H1cbZNbIW0CHbCC" />

SP Setia acquired the Atchison Street site as part of its continued expansion into the Australian apartment market. In comments made to City &amp; Country (The Edge Malaysia) in 2023, SP Setia President and CEO Datuk Choong Kai Wai described the acquisition as “a strategic move” aligned with the group’s post-pandemic market recovery strategy.

“Our target for this exceptional development is local and overseas buyers, including first-home buyers, downsizers and investors,” Choong said.

The tower has been designed as a slender vertical form rising from a mixed-use podium, with COX Architecture positioning the development as a response to the evolving St Leonards and Crows Nest skyline.

“The purpose of the project is to facilitate the delivery of high-quality housing at a strategically located site and deliver a built tower outcome that is consistent with the desired future character of St Leonards and aligns with the TOD controls,” the design report stated.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="b1a85eee-76f7-436c-a6da-73ba827b9b13" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/atchinson%20entry.png?VersionId=dA9jHGPMcm.dDbwk4QfxqWiY5bfh3UVt" />

The podium would incorporate retail uses fronting Atchison Street, commercial tenancies, landscaped communal areas, and pedestrian improvements along Mitchell Street. Vehicle access and loading would be consolidated via Atchison Lane.

Residents would have access to more than 665 sqm of communal indoor and outdoor spaces, while the development proposes 96 parking spaces across five basement levels.

The proposal also includes a commitment for 10 per cent of residential floor space to be allocated toward affordable housing through a monetary contribution.

COX said the tower form responds directly to the emerging high-density character of the precinct while seeking to maximise solar access, cross ventilation, and outlook from apartments.

<img alt="First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="2163f85c-f63b-4be3-aafa-f8763976cec5" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/Article%20Feature%20Image%20%28Grid%29_5.png?VersionId=WiAmtIKJ6.ZQ41EtYEQ1fol7AeorKBlL" />

“The building is orientated towards north,” the Apartment Design Guide compliance report noted, adding that the tower’s slim form was driven by the constrained inner-urban site dimensions.

The design also incorporates landscaped setbacks and communal open space at podium level, intended to soften the interface with surrounding streets and improve pedestrian amenity.

The project adds to a growing wave of redevelopment proposals reshaping St Leonards and Crows Nest following the opening of the Sydney Metro City line and the NSW Government’s push for higher-density housing around major transport nodes.

Last week Stockland filed plans just down the road. They want to build a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/601-pacific-highway-st-leonards-nsw-2065">52-storey tower on Pacific Highway</a>.

Read more:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/news/nsw/first-look-stockland-plans-52-storey-538-apartment-st-leonards-tower">First look: Stockland plans 52-storey, 538-apartment St Leonards tower&nbsp;</a>

First look: SP Setia targets St Leonards skyline with 40-storey TOD tower

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/urban-property-group">Urban Property Group</a> has revealed plans for a new mixed-use tower at 10 Dangar Street, Wickham, advancing a proposal that would reshape the southern gateway to Newcastle’s city centre with one of the city’s tallest residential buildings.

The State Significant Development proposal, now on exhibition, seeks approval for a <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/bowline-10-dangar-street-wickham-nsw-2293">43-storey tower</a> immediately adjacent to the Newcastle Interchange. The project would deliver around 200 apartments, including 42 affordable housing dwellings, alongside 99 co-living units, a 171-room hotel, retail space, and new public domain integrated through the site.

The scheme marks a significant escalation of plans previously approved for the site. Urban Property Group took over the prominent 2,904 sqm parcel, where excavation and demolition had already commenced under an earlier consent for a 14-storey mixed-use development.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="58a96dd9-407f-4d20-86b4-94e4bfeef74b" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20podium.png?VersionId=LGlf08pdFGAZDzvx_CXC4XakHNZRuEE0" />

Designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/sjb-architects">SJB</a>, the tower has been conceived as a landmark transit-oriented development anchored to the Newcastle Interchange precinct. The proposal includes 245 build-to-sell apartments across a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom residences, as well as two penthouses. Fifteen apartments and one operational unit are earmarked for NDIS housing. The co-living component would add a further 99 units, while the podium would accommodate retail uses and hotel facilities.

SJB said the site presents “a valuable opportunity to anchor the precinct by setting the standard for design, active ground planes and character at the key southern gateway.”

The architecture responds directly to the site’s position beside major transport infrastructure and within one of Newcastle’s fastest-evolving urban renewal precincts. The tower form sits above a sculpted podium designed to frame new public spaces, including a through-site pedestrian link connecting Station Street to Hannell Street, landscaped plazas, and activated retail edges.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="a7bd6ff0-f7db-4ce8-a6dc-ea56e72c6149" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20lanne.png?VersionId=xzf39VADyhj7zBQY2I9fx9vI62u2tuSb" />

The design report describes the project as part of the broader transition of Wickham into “a vibrant, high-quality mixed-use urban precinct” that leverages proximity to the station, open space, and regional connectivity.

A detailed public art strategy has also been prepared for the development. The strategy positions the project as “a transit-oriented development of state significance at the gateway to Newcastle’s city centre” and outlines a series of integrated artworks responding to Newcastle’s industrial and transport heritage.

Creative Road’s curatorial framework for the project, titled Unveil, draws on “stratified surfaces, carved volumes, and light-filled apertures” while referencing Newcastle’s transformation from an industrial city into a contemporary education and technology hub.

<img alt="First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s next supertower at Wickham interchange" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="77a882bb-14b1-4d28-99ff-9438e39508c0" src="https://s3.ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/www.urban.com.au/s3fs-public/inline-images/wickham%20site.png?VersionId=cevgo_vN0eKPK78P8YcEu3mKPLkpFqE7" />

The proposal is being advanced through the NSW Housing Delivery Authority pathway after being declared State Significant Development in June 2025. The accompanying scoping report states the development aims to “maximise the site’s proximity to the Newcastle Interchange by delivering transit-oriented development” while increasing housing supply and affordable housing provision within the Newcastle LGA.

Urban Property Group’s plans align with the long-term strategic vision established under the Wickham Master Plan, which identified the interchange precinct as suitable for substantial uplift in height and density. The current proposal would significantly intensify that vision, positioning the tower among the tallest developments proposed for Newcastle.

The site sits immediately north of the Newcastle Interchange, bounded by Dangar Street, Hannell Street, and Charles Street. It is surrounded by a rapidly growing cluster of residential towers and mixed-use projects that have emerged following the completion of the light rail and transport interchange.

First look: Urban Property Group unveils Newcastle’s latest tower at Wickham interchange

Bottega House has completed settlement of a landmark riverfront site in Macquarie Street, St Lucia, representing its first major Brisbane development.&nbsp;

Positioned on the banks of the Brisbane River, the <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/180-macquarie-street-st-lucia-qld-4067">premium site at 180 Macquarie Street</a> features uninterrupted river frontage in one of Brisbane’s most tightly held residential precincts.&nbsp;

The proposed development, currently under assessment with Brisbane City Council, has been designed by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/architects/plus-studio">Plus Studio</a> with interiors by <a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/interior-designers/mim-design">Mim Design</a> and will deliver a boutique collection of premium residences positioned specifically for owner occupiers and downsizers.&nbsp;

The residences are set to redefine luxury apartment living in the area, with a focus on architectural quality, refined finishes, landscape integration and elevated amenities including curated wellness facilities, resort-style pools and recreation spaces rarely seen in the local market.&nbsp;

Exclusive sales for the project will be led by Keenan &amp; Byrne, ahead of an anticipated launch later this year.&nbsp;

Bottega House Managing Director Nick Malloch said the project reflects the group’s ambition to deliver a highly curated residential offering within one of Brisbane’s most tightly held precincts.&nbsp;

“This is an incredibly rare riverfront opportunity and one we have approached with a long-term perspective,” Malloch said.&nbsp;

“Our vision from the outset was to create a boutique collection of residences that feel more like private homes than traditional apartments, with generous proportions, refined finishes and exceptional amenity throughout."

Malloch says there is a&nbsp;lack of premium owner-occupier stock of this quality in the market, particularly for downsizers wanting space, privacy and a true lifestyle offering without compromise.&nbsp;

"Demand is expected to be strong given the scarcity of premium riverfront opportunities of this nature within Brisbane’s inner-west."&nbsp;

Bottega House secures landmark riverfront site in St Lucia 

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The arrival of the first piling rig officially marks the commencement of construction at SIERA’s new beachside apartment development, Exhale, in Northcliffe.

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/new-apartments/exhale-surfers-paradise-8-enderley-avenue-surfers-paradise-qld-4217">Exhale</a>, a glass-encased tower featuring 54 large-scale apartments at 8 Enderley Avenue, is SIERA’s third Gold Coast development. It follows the recently completed PIPIS Bilinga beachfront project, which achieved suburb-record prices, and the soon-to-be-completed Chevron Island development, Tapestry.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359603]

<a href="https://www.apartments.com.au/developers/siera">SIERA</a> Founder and Managing Director Brent Thompson said the arrival of the piling rig represented a significant milestone for the development, which is scheduled for completion in late 2028.

Over the next month, around 260 piles are expected to be installed as work progresses on the basement structure. The building is anticipated to rise above ground level early next year, before unveiling its sculptural glass curtain wall, developed in collaboration with specialist façade engineers.

“The façade was designed to maximise panoramic coastal views while creating a distinctive architectural identity,” Thompson said.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=355935]

Designed by BDA Architecture, Exhale will comprise just 54 two- and three-bedroom residences across 26 levels, a level of low-density living rarely delivered in this beachside pocket between Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

The project has been conceived as a resident-only building, with no short-stay accommodation permitted. SIERA says the model is intended to appeal to long-term owner-occupiers rather than transient holiday demand.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=361052]

Residences have been designed with large-format layouts and expansive glazing, with most apartments featuring more than 30 metres of glass frontage to maximise natural light and ocean views.

The amenity offering spans two levels and centres on wellness and lifestyle, including a heated magnesium pool, sauna, yoga and Pilates studio, gymnasium, private dining facilities, cinema lounge, and dedicated surfcraft storage.

[smartcode_project:default project_id=112661 project_image_fid=359607]

More than half of the apartments have already sold. SIERA has also opened a sales gallery for Exhale at its Chevron Island commercial premises, near its Tapestry tower and the site of its second Chevron Island apartment development, which is slated to launch in early 2027.
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[smartcode_project_cta:default project_id=112661]

SIERA kicks off construction at Northcliffe tower Exhale

Victorian Election 2018

Alastair Taylor

What's happening in the suburbs the Suburban Rail Loop might link?

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The Premier last night, through his facebook page, gave a media alert of sorts for a big announcement to happen at 7am this morning and sure enough it was right.

For so long orbital connections in Melbourne have been all about freeways - take the North East Link, it's the final piece of our primary rail network - and now the ALP Government is taking an orbital rail network to the November state election.

All rail lines, except Alamein &amp; Sandringham, will have a connection to the new underground line and all middle and National Employment and Innovation Clusters will be linked.  The only clusters not directly serviced by this line would be Parkville, Fishermans Bend and Dandenong South.

The Government asserts 400,000 passengers will use the line every day and over 20,000 jobs will be created during what one can only presume will be a very long construction phase.

And the pricetag? A cool $50 billion.

<iframe allow="encrypted-media" allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="476" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FDanielAndrewsMP%2Fvideos%2F268286560488175%2F&amp;show_text=1&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="560"></iframe>

At a press conference held subsequently after we first published the Premier and Public Transport Minister outlined other project parameters:

<ul>
<li>The project will be built in phases with the first to be the Cheltenham to Box Hill section.  The Premier also mentioned that the North West section (between the Airport and Sunshine) is already underway in the form of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link.</li>
	<li>The Premier said the Cheltenham to Melbourne Airport section will be entirely underground, that's over a whopping 50 kilometres.</li>
	<li>If the Andrews Government has been re-elected, the detailed planning and geotech work will begin early next year as part of the $300 million to be allocated toward planning.</li>
	<li>The Premier also said the project, championed by Jacinta Allan, has seen internal department work on the concept for over 12 months.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Comment &amp; analysis</h2>

Given the volume of money to be set aside for planning - $300 million - the project appears to have progressed far beyond just a concept internally.  That is the kind of money you'd expect to be spent for a major project such as this to progress to construction.

Other media are reporting 12 stations as stated in video published by the Premier at 7am this morning however any Melburnian will know there are huge areas - especially in the west - that if 12 stations was the total would go unserved.  One suspects more stations will be announced should the government be re-elected and the planning work kicks off in earnest (that's what business cases are for).

Likewise, there's a big question on the type of trains to be used.  At 400,000 passengers per day once complete as the government has claimed - which would make it the most heavily patronised rail lines in the city if not the country - the trains will presumably be 'heavy' but will the project be built to the same rail specifications as the rest of the network or will this be a chance to do what the NSW government has done and introduce a new operationally independent rail service utilising driverless trains?

$50 billion is eye-watering and paying for it will be interesting - less so if construction of the entire line is phase and scheduled to be complete over a longer period of time - however we need only look at the work Infrastructure Victoria is and has been doing on value capture.

The<a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/monash-employment-cluster/"> Monash NEIC</a>, Deakin University in Burwood, Box Hill, <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/la-trobe-employment-cluster/">La Trobe NEIC</a>, Melbourne Airport, <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/sunshine-employment-cluster/">Sunshine NEIC</a> and <a href="https://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/east-werribee-employment-precinct/">Werribee NEIC</a> are all in the path of this new rail line and as we've reported on time and time again on Apartments.com.au are all centres that are already seeing significant residential or commercial development.  Throw in other established job precincts at Heatherton between Cheltenham and Clayton, Glen Waverley itself, Broadmeadows and it's not hard to see how the line could get people out of cars and on to PT.
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Victorian Government unveils Suburban Rail Loop election proposal

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The ALP Andrews Government has rolled out another November election commitment, pledging to duplicate the Cranbourne line and committed to start the planning process which will see the line extended to Clyde.

The Coalition opposition <a href="/news/victorian-opposition-commits-to-extending-cranbourne-line-if-elected-in-november">unveiled plans</a> to extend the Cranbourne line a few weeks ago, however in their election commitment duplication of the Cranbourne line was to come after an extension.

The ALP's commitment also comes with a service frequency pledge - a train every 10 minutes - as well as a package of works at the major junctions along the further up the line at Dandenong and Caulfield.

<blockquote>
Tracks will also be upgraded around Caulfield station, where the Frankston line splits off from the Cranbourne-Pakenham line, and around Dandenong station where the Cranbourne and Pakenham lines separate.

This will help move trains more quickly through these stations, cutting delays and getting people home sooner.
<cite>Premier's media release</cite>
</blockquote>

The price tag outlined for the duplication and Dandenong/Caulfield improvement works is $750 million according to the Andrews Government, and adds to the billions of rail investments already committed in the area.

Fourteen of the fifty level crossing removal projects are on the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines. Nine are complete with two on the Cranbourne branch underway and a further three at planning on the Pakenham branch; on Saturday Hughesdale re-opened to passengers.

A massive new train maintenance and storage depot for the High Capacity Metro Trains (HCMTs) is under construction in Pakenham East, the power systems are in a state of upgrade to cater for the new trains and a new signalling system will be deployed between Dandenong and Sunshine once the Pakenham/Cranbourne lines join the Sunbury line through the Melbourne Metro Tunnel.

In terms of yesterday's announcement, $7 million has been committed to the planning to extend the Cranbourne line to Clyde. The Andrews Government, in contrast to the opposition, insists duplication of the track between Dandenong and Cranbourne must occur first before an extension project can occur.

<h2>Analysis &amp; Comment</h2>

The multiple billions that have been or will be invested into this rail corridor highlight how much underinvestment in rail there has been over the decades.

The power and signaling upgrades represent a multi-generational leap in technology available for rail services in the area (it also highlights how daunting the task will be to upgrade other lines in future) and will no doubt serve the city for many decades.

One thing we have not seen an explicit commitment to is finally putting the entire line on concrete sleepers - there are small sections of old wooden sleepers, particularly through stations that haven't been upgraded as part of the level crossing removal project.

The investment in Caulfield is welcome as well because at the moment trains are forced to slow down to cross over the pedestrian subway which forms the main access to the station and the junction with Frankston line involves sharp movements which make for a less-than-par passenger experience.

What else would we like to see happen? Everything announced, under construction or committed to has ticked all the boxes except for a project to improve speeds between Caulfield and the Metro tunnel portal. 

Pakenham/Cranbourne/Gippsland trains are forced to slow when entering and exiting Hawksburn and Armadale station areas on their express runs. Given all trains on Pakenham/Cranbourne/Gippsland do not stop at any of the intermediate stations, improving track geometry by shaving back station platforms will increase speeds and thus overall passenger carrying capacity on the track pair.  
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South-east Melbourne's railway upgrades continue with Cranbourne duplication election announcement

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The Victorian Greens have announced that as part of their 2018 election pitch, $100 million would be allocated to begin the planning for the Melbourne Metro 2 project, which seeks to build a rail tunnel from Clifton Hill to Newport via Fishermans Bend, and link the Mernda and Werribee train lines.

In policy documents published on the Greens' <a href="https://greens.org.au/sites/default/files/2018-08/Greens%20MM2%20Initiative.pdf">website</a>, the party describes Melbourne Metro 2 as "a sustainable alternative to mega road projects like the East-West link, the West Gate Tunnel, and the North East Link by providing residents in Melbourne’s North, West and Fishermans Bend with reliable high capacity metro rail service."

The Greens cite preliminary costs devised by AECOM and PWC for Infrastructure Victoria's 30 year infrastructure strategy  - $15 billion to $23 billion 'over 10 years' - and for the most part, a map drawn up by the party depicts the same number of stations as the project that was modelled for Infrastructure Victoria.

The promised $100 million would be used to pay for a business case, detailed costings, and a cost-benefit analysis to "define the best alignment and technical requirements for the implementation of the project."

Greens MP for Prahran and Transport spokesperson, Sam Hibbins, said "Melbourne Metro 2 is The Greens alternative to the old parties’ obsession with toll roads, and is essential to reduce congestion and protect Melbourne’s liveability with a growing population."  He added "No party can have any credibility on public transport unless they commit to planning for Melbourne Metro 2 now."

The Greens policy pledge also includes creating a new branch line from the Mernda line to Wollert, and extending metro services from Werribee to Wyndham Vale.

<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/metro_2_map_final_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The Greens' vision for Melbourne Metro 2 - image: The Greens Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="451" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/metro_2_map_final_1.png?itok=rhPhyLxg" title="The Greens' vision for Melbourne Metro 2 - image: The Greens Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Greens' vision for Melbourne Metro 2 - image: <a href="https://greens.org.au/vic/news/greens-commit-melbourne-metro-2">The Greens Victoria</a></figcaption></figure>In Fishermans Bend, the party's map remains neutral on station placement simply referring to Fishermans Bend station 1 and 2.  Like in the Fishermans Bend <a href="http://www.fishermansbend.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0023/87071/Draft-Fishermans-Bend-Framework-LR.pdf">draft framework plan</a> where it appears the Greens' policy platform is drawing inspiration, there have been two alternative routes (and therefore two sets of station placements within the renewal area) proposed.

Both alignments include a station located within the Sandridge Precinct, with the choice then between a station within the Employment Precinct or the Wirraway precinct.

The new branch line to Wollert would start at Lalor according to the Greens policy and include 4 new stations to service the new suburban areas stuck halfway between the new Mernda extension and the Craigieburn line.

The party cites a 117% population growth figure by 2031 in regards to the Wyndham Vale extension where, at Black Forest Road, a new station would be built to facilitate interchange between Geelong regional services and Metro to better service the East Werribee National Employment and Innovation Cluster.

Both the Wollert and Wyndham Vale extensions would be studied as part of the Melbourne Metro 2 planning process.
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Greens add Melbourne Metro 2 to their 2018 election platform

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Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced the second phase of upgrades to the Hurstbridge Line that promises to increase peak hour services through Melbourne's north-east, should the Andrews Government be re-elected.

The $530 million project will see Greensborough station (pictured above) rebuilt as well as implement track duplications between Greensborough and Montmorency stations and between Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen stations.

Spring Street says it will allow trains to run every 6-7 minutes from Greensborough, every 10 minutes from Eltham and Montmorency and every 20 minutes from the end of the line stations at Hurstbridge, Diamond Creek and Wattle Glen.

The project also includes improvements to the Clifton Hill junction to cater for an extra five-morning peak services to be run on the Mernda line.

The omission of track duplication between Montmorency and Eltham appears to be related to the Eltham Trestle Bridge which has local heritage protection and a re-elected Andrews Government would seek to 'protect this important piece of Melbourne's history with planning work to be carried out for a long-term solution as part of the project'.

<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/grange_road_1.jpg" rel="gallery-all" title="Grange Road in Alphington had its level crossing removed as part of phase one - 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/grange_road_1.jpg?itok=p4cYmy73" title="Grange Road in Alphington had its level crossing removed as part of phase one - image: LXRA" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Grange Road in Alphington had its level crossing removed as part of phase one - image: LXRA</figcaption></figure>The first phase of Hurstbridge upgrades included removing the Grange Road level crossing in Alphington, removing the Lower Plenty Road level crossing in Rosanna and duplicating the track (which included a new tunnel) between Rosanna and Heidelberg stations.

Under previous governments, the Hurstbridge line has seen other upgrades including duplicating the bridge from the Clifton Hill junction across the Merri Creek into Westgarth.

Clifton Hill's junction is not grade separated at present - South Morang/Mernda trains headed to the city not only conflict with Hurstbridge line trains heading to the city, but they also conflict with Hurstbridge line trains heading out of the city.

The Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan also announced upgrades to Donnybrook and Wallan stations which will see the V/Line service area stations have their platforms extended, car parks expanded, access roads altered and pedestrian access will also be improved.  Wallan will see an extension of its waiting room, new bathrooms, more bus bays and more bike facilities.

The Donnybrook and Wallan upgrades are costed at $24 million and funded through the joint state and federal government $1.57 billion Regional Rail Revival Program.  

Regional Rail Revival will see a multitude of upgrades to all the various lines, some of which - specifically on the Ballarat line - are precursor projects to wider electrification and metro expansion projects to Melton for instance.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greensborough_railway_station">Wikipedia</a>.
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Greensborough station to be rebuilt in Hurstbridge Line second phase upgrade

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The Rail Futures Institute has called on the State and Commonwealth Governments to keep one eye on the long-term and get the route and operations of the Melbourne Airport Rail Link 'right' in the first instance.

A statement from the rail lobby group says "we have long advocated that the Airport route should be from Southern Cross Station via a single stop at Sunshine where a major rail interchange would provide easy connections with the Melbourne Metro corridor and the regional lines that pass through Sunshine."

"We therefore strongly endorse the Premier’s announcement that the preferred route will include a new Sunshine Super-Hub and pave the way for fast trains to Geelong and Ballarat"

As the Premier mentioned on Sunday, rail tunnels will be used for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link and RFI re-iterated government needs to get it right.

"The major infrastructure needed to provide the Airport Rail Link is likely to include long tunnels and be designed for a useful life of 100 years or more. It is therefore of critical importance that the detail of the new corridor design and operation is right in the first instance."

The Rail Futures Institute advocates for what it has dubbed the AirTrain concept - a dedicated set of tracks linking Southern Cross, Sunshine, Melbourne Airport and in a later, second, phase, linking the airport with the Bendigo and Seymour-Shepparton regional lines.

There would be a dedicated shuttle service operating between Southern Cross, Sunshine and Melbourne Airport and all Bendigo/Echuca/Swan Hill and Seymour/Shepparton V/Line services would run along the route.

Shifting the regional services out of the existing Sunbury and Craigieburn corridors in turn frees up space to allow metro to run even more services on those lines in the long run.

RFI refines its concepts from time to time with the latest depicting three separate tunnels between the City and Melbourne Airport and they have designed track geometry to allow trains to operate at much higher speeds (hence the 15-20 minute journey time).

<blockquote>
Travel time to the Airport will be a critical factor in its success. It must be faster than any private car, taxi or bus alternative. Rail Futures is confident that a suitably designed and operated rail corridor can readily achieve travel times in the range of 15 to 20 minutes, inclusive of the Sunshine stop.
<cite>Dr Bill Russell, Rail Futures Institute Secretary</cite>
</blockquote>

After the weekend's announcement on route selection, the Victorian Government added the Melbourne Airport Rail Link to its re-election pitch.  

Routes via Craigieburn, Maribyrnong and Flemington have now been ruled out and the business case for the project will now focus on the route via Sunshine and the government said the business case will be completed in 2019.

As part of the Victorian Government's Regional Rail Revival program, the Ballarat line has come into focus with duplication of track from Deer Park to Melton.  On more than one occasion, the language surrounding the Melton duplication has pointed toward eventual electrification and operations shifting to Metro.

The 'Sunshine super-hub' concept for the Melbourne Airport Rail Link also applies to Melton electrification.  Sunshine station was upgraded as recently as 2014 as part of the Regional Rail Link.

<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/rfi_airtrain_1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The Rail Futures Institute's AirTrain concept"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="376" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/rfi_airtrain_1.png?itok=3ct0ie3c" title="The Rail Futures Institute's AirTrain concept" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The Rail Futures Institute's <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/180530-Airport-Brochure_v7.pdf">AirTrain concept</a></figcaption></figure>
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Rail Futures Institute reiterates calls for long-term thinking on Melbourne Airport Rail Link

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A rail service to Melbourne's Tullamarine airport is a step closer with the State Government announcing it will join the Commonwealth in proceeding with a rail link that will run via the <a href="http://vpa.vic.gov.au/project/sunshine-employment-cluster/">National Employment and Innovation Cluster</a> (NEIC) in <a href="/new-apartments/sunshine-vic-3020">Sunshine</a>.

Premier Daniel Andrews and Minister for Public Transport Jacinta Allan announced a route options assessment undertaken by Transport for Victoria has resulted in the Sunshine route - also known as the Albion (East) route - has come out on top.  The strategic appraisal has now been <a href="https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0007/318571/MARL-Sunshine-Route-Strategic-Appraisal.pdf">published</a> on the government's Big Build website.

In the route selection process, the Victorian Government has reaffirmed what previous studies have resulted in - from a connectivity and constructability point of view, the Sunshine (Albion) corridor has the greatest merit.

The other three routes, via Flemington, Maribyrnong and Craigieburn have all rated lower than the Sunshine corridor.  Constructability and cost penalise the Maribyrnong and Flemington routes with the strategic appraisal estimating 8-10 years and $15-$20 billion via Flemington and a whopping 10-12 years and $20-$25 billion via the Maribyrnong defence site.

The Craigieburn route scored the best on lowest cost ($5-$10 billion) and had a similar constructability and delivery time (7-9 years) as the preferred Sunshine route ($8-$13billion).   Sunshine won out over Craigieburn in connectivity and reducing travel time to key economic centres.

<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/marl_routes1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="The routes that were assessed - again. Image: Transport for Victoria"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="803" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/marl_routes1.png?itok=G4XN0p9L" title="The routes that were assessed - again. Image: Transport for Victoria" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>The routes that were assessed - again. Image: Transport for Victoria</figcaption></figure>A new super-hub station will be created at Sunshine for facilitating greater interconnection with the Ballarat and Geelong regional lines.  

Reflecting the position we're in with regards to the electoral cycle - Spring Street goes to an election on the last Saturday in November - the language from the Premier and Minister for Public Transport is starting to sharpen up.

"Only Labor has removed the level crossings and is building the Metro Tunnel – and only a re-elected Labor Government will deliver the Melbourne Airport Rail Link," the Premier said.  "The Andrews Labor Government will build the airport link via Sunshine, so that all Victorians can access the airport by rail, no matter where you live," the Minister for Public Transport said.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck">
BREAKING NEWS: Airport Rail is finally happening. We've spent the last few years removing level crossings, and building the Metro Tunnel. Now we'll get this done. Watch how. <a href="https://t.co/JxxXCBmQ8l">pic.twitter.com/JxxXCBmQ8l</a>
— Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/DanielAndrewsMP/status/1020813444327485440?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 21, 2018</a>
</blockquote>

<h2>Analysis &amp; Comment</h2>

All (rail) roads certainly do lead to Sunshine.

There's still a long way to go before shovels hit the ground.  The Strategic appraisal sets out a timeline over the next four years and now that the route has been selected, a detailed business case on that route will be conducted and finalised by '2019/2020'.

"This strategic assessment will now inform the development of a full Business Case," the documents published today say - and hopefully when the business case is finished we'll know why the line is expected to cost $8-$13 billion.

Noting that maps released today state city access options are to be explored, I'd expect the full business case to now focus on different levels of quality. 

Quality in the sense the Airtrain concept from the <a href="http://www.railfutures.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/180530-Airport-Brochure_v7.pdf">Rail Futures Institute</a> would be at the upper echelon because it's as strategic as the 1960s-era act of locating Tullamarine where it now stands and by comparison simply building a branch line to the airport from the metro tunnel track pair would be significantly lower in quality.

The Government's language is headed in the right direction - even though the new infrastructure is located entirely within metropolitan Melbourne, there are just as many benefits for regions outside the capital as well.

Another hope for the full business case would be that the powers-that-be take a more holistic approach to public transport planning for the airport. 

Beyond the headline heavy rail link this would including looking at the benefits/costs of extending the #59 tram to the airport from its current terminus at Airport West - therefore servicing the jobs located on airport land to the south of the terminals and connecting passengers (and employees!) who live in the inner-middle north-west with the airport.

We also have a robust freeway network that is going to see a lot of changes in the north-east very soon - taking a detailed look at a strategy to get faster/express bus services into the areas to the east of the airport on dedicated lanes on the Western/Northern Ring Road should also be studied.
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Victorian Government commits to Sunshine-Albion corridor for Melbourne Airport Rail Link

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Knox City Council in Melbourne's outer-east will at its council meeting tonight be presented with a <a href="http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/Files/MeetingsCouncil/2018_07_23_Council_Supplementary_Agenda.PDF">report</a> by council officers which recommends the council undertake a shift in its advocacy for Public Transport to and from and within the LGA in the run-up to the Victorian election in November.

The report recommends the council endorse a two-page advocacy brochure which outlines a three-stage light and heavy rail rollout that would better serve the wider middle-ring and outer eastern areas of metropolitan Melbourne.

Noting that its own advocacy of projects would be more effective when undertaken in the wider context of an Eastern Melbourne public transport plan, the report argues the economic case for the projects will improve when viewed across the sub-regional level.

To Knox's west is Monash, to the north is Whitehorse and Maroondah, to the south is Greater Dandenong and to the east is Yarra Ranges Shire - all these councils are a part of the <a href="http://www.etc.org.au/">Eastern Transport Coalition</a> which advocates for improved public transport in Eastern Melbourne.

The advocacy brochure appended to the council report certainly does take on a wider sub-regional context with two north-south light rail lines, one of which does not enter Knox's municipal territory, and the Rowville Rail project runs for the most part through the city of Monash before entering Knox.

It also includes proposals for three new bus routes which would better serve the employment precincts within the Knox LGA including one route which would require a road bridge to be constructed in Scoresby.

The report notes the history of studies relating to Rowville heavy rail but in light of the Federal Government's allocation of $24 million for planning over the forward estimates and a commitment of $475 million to build a heavy rail line, council officers recommend changing tack on its PT advocacy.

<blockquote>
As the Victorian State Government has essentially operated without a formal transport plan to guide investment across the last ten years, the only true gauge of Government’s position on Rowville Rail has been through direct approaches with elected representatives through both Council and the ETC.

Over the last 4-5 years, the Government response when pressed on Rowville Rail has remained consistent, namely that at best, it represents a longer term aspiration of Government, noting that delivery of the Melbourne Metro project and the Level Crossing Removal Program remain the top priorities

When the current Government established Infrastructure Victoria to assess infrastructure priorities across both metropolitan Melbourne and Regional Victoria, the Rowville Rail project was considered, however ultimately disregarded. It was again seen as a longer term priority, noting that a lower order transit solution, namely bus rapid transit or light rail might be deemed more appropriate.
<cite>Knox council report</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/knox_advocacy1.png" rel="gallery-all" title="Map from the draft advocacy brochure - image: Knox"><img alt="" class="image-article-full-width-580px" height="406" src="/sites/urban.melbourne/files//styles/article_full_width_580px/public/pictures/article-images/knox_advocacy1.png?itok=zaTRKXY9" title="Map from the draft advocacy brochure - image: Knox" width="580"></a>

<figcaption>Map from the draft advocacy brochure - image: Knox</figcaption></figure>Knox is one of the outer eastern LGAs that has zero capacity for outwards expansion and although limited at the time of writing, it is not without projects on the <a href="/developments?lga=Knox">Urban.com.au Project Database</a>.

The LGA has two projects under construction near Knox Shopping Centre with the remaining projects either under assessment, approved or at sales.

One such project, 711-717 Mountain Highway that was profiled on Apartments.com.au a year ago has had a redesign and its fate will be decided upon at the same meeting tonight.  The council officer report for the development recommends the council grant a town planning permit.

To view the council's public transport advocacy report and draft brochure, see <a href="http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/Files/MeetingsCouncil/2018_07_23_Council_Supplementary_Agenda.PDF">knox.vic.gov.au</a>.

Lead image credit: <a href="http://www.knox.vic.gov.au/c149">Knox Amendment C149</a>
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Knox City Council to vote on new Public Transport advocacy in light of recent Eastern Melbourne announcements

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Hot on the heels of announcing that, if elected at the Victorian state election in November, a new Liberal-National government would <a href="/news/victorian-opposition-commits-to-extending-cranbourne-line-if-elected-in-november">extend the Cranbourne line to Clyde</a>, the Victorian opposition has further announced another railway electrification and upgrade project to Baxter.

Extending the Frankston line to Baxter would include duplicating existing Stony Point line track, electrifying it and adding two stations at Frankston east and Langwarrin plus undergoing a major upgrade at the Baxter terminus.

The railway corridor in question currently operates as a diesel passenger service between Stony Point on Westernport Bay and Frankston station.  The line also sees freight trains run from the Long Island steel mills in Hastings.

The Victorian Government has a $3 million study to develop a business case for the upgrade underway and in the most recent Federal budget, $225 million was reserved for the electrification project.  Matthew Guy, the <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-07-16/frankston-baxter-rail-upgrade-frankston-east-langwarrin/10000738">ABC reports</a>, has committed to match the Federal contribution if elected in November.

<iframe allowfullscreen="true" allowtransparency="true" frameborder="0" height="315" scrolling="no" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FMatthewGuyMP%2Fvideos%2F10155376611576555%2F&amp;show_text=0&amp;width=560" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" width="100%"></iframe>

The location of the Frankston East station is designed to cater for passengers travelling to the Peninsula campus of Monash University and the Frankston Hospital.  Leawarra station on the Stony Point line is within the vicinity but judging by the video from Matthew Guy's facebook feed above, the location of the Frankston East station would be located closer to the Moordooduc Highway.

The new Langwarrin station appears to be located in an isolated part of the rail corridor with the Langwarrin Flora and Fauna reserve to the east and another strip of open green spaces located to the west.

The terminus station at Baxter, historically the junction station between the Stony Point line and disused Mornington line, appears to correlate with the location of the existing station.

<h2>Analysis &amp; comment</h2>

There is clear pub test logic in creating the new 'Frankston East' station away from the current location of Leawarra.  Thankfully both major political parties are committed to not introducing new level crossings and given the Liberal party's resistance to elevated railway lines, I assume a trench will be dug with Clarendon St and the Moorooduc Highway passing at their existing grades over the top.

Locating the Frankston East station directly underneath Moorooduc Highway would allow station entrances to be created on either side of the road - similar to Nunawading on the Belgrave/Lilydale lines - and in turn it would become a task of improving pedestrian links to Frankston Hospital and into the Monash University campus to encourage usage of the station by those two large patronage generators.

The location of a station as shown in the Opposition Leader's video at Langwarrin does not appear to be all that clear-cut, however.  The station is isolated between a protected wildlife reserve and open space next to the Peninsula Link / Frankston bypass.  There's no obvious centre - or major existing residential settlement in the immediate vicinity - to serve by placing a station in this area unless there are also plans to develop either the reserve or open space.

The Langwarrin reserve and Peninsula Link open space are outside Melbourne's Urban Growth Boundary.

Locating the station further south nearer Robinsons Road has clearer logic but there is still a lack of patronage generators. Perhaps the station could become a major park and ride station however that appears to be better served at Baxter where the Peninsula Link / Frankston bypass has two major interchanges to the north and the south of Baxter station.

Lead image credit: <a href="https://www.propertyobserver.com.au/https://twitter.com/MatthewGuyMP/status/1019039715847127040/photo/1">Matthew Guy on Twitter</a>.
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Victorian opposition continues its run of public transport announcements

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Laurence and I discuss the news in Melbourne this week.

We're getting toward the end of 'developing' Docklands, Southbank Boulevard changes kick off, Infrastructure Victoria has surprisingly gone out early for its first 30-year strategy refresh and shots fired! - the Victorian state opposition has announced their first public transport-focused election initiative.

And remember to subscribe to the Apartments.com.au podcast through your favourite podcasting app - just search for Apartments.com.au.

<iframe allow="autoplay" frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=https%3A//api.soundcloud.com/tracks/470561079&amp;color=%23ff5500&amp;auto_play=true&amp;hide_related=false&amp;show_comments=true&amp;show_user=true&amp;show_reposts=false&amp;show_teaser=true" width="100%"></iframe>
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