Joint Statement - Labor set to impose 40-storey towers to fill rail loop black hole

Joint Statement – Labor set to impose 40-storey towers to fill rail loop black hole

David Southwick, Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

28 April 2024.

Following a flawed public consultation process, the Allan Labor Government has released development maps for areas surrounding Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) stations.

With approval to build up to 40 storeys high in Box Hill, it is clear Labor wants to cram towers into suburbs to fill its SRL funding black hole.

The other five sites will see 25-storey towers built around Monash and Glen Waverley, 20 storeys in Clayton and Burwood, and 18 storeys in Cheltenham.

The released mapping comes less than two weeks after consultations were completed, where the Allan Labor Government admitted that only 3,400 people provided feedback, despite over 150,000 people living around the designated areas.

In the City of Bayside, an overwhelming two-thirds of respondents were opposed to the project, yet their feedback has been ignored.

Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure, David Southwick, said: “The Suburban Rail Loop was poorly planned and never properly scrutinised, leaving it with a $21 billion funding shortfall on the first stage alone.

“Now that even the Federal Labor Government has walked away from the SRL money pit, the Allan Labor Government are trying to jam 40-storey towers into residents’ backyards to make up for their mismanagement.”

Shadow Minister for Planning, James Newbury, said: “Premier Allan, who doesn’t live in Melbourne, seems hell-bent on destroying our suburbs to fill the SRL’s funding black hole.”

“Communities and Councils who oppose the Allan Labor Government destroying their amenity need to stand up and use their voices before it is too late.”

James Newbury, Shadow Minister for Planning

David Southwick, Shadow Minister for Transport Infrastructure