The ambitious Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), a 90-kilometer orbital rail project aimed at transforming Melbourne’s transport landscape, has come under federal scrutiny following a report by Infrastructure Australia. Construction on the first phase of the SRL East project is now in progress. It would provide a rail line between the eastern suburbs of Box Hill and Cheltenham, with an updated cost of up to $34.5 billion. Despite its inclusion on Infrastructure Australia's priority list, concerns about the cost-benefit analysis of this initial phase have prompted the federal government to seek clarifications from their Victorian counterparts.
Those who live close to the building activity, particularly in Heatherton, have suffered as a result of the current impacts. In response, the Suburban Rail Loop Authority has cancelled or suspended work to respond to these concerns. We avoided or minimized construction impacts to local communities. One of these actions will be to remove the vibration rollers that were used for ground compaction work.
Federal Concerns and Financial Commitments
Now the federal government is calling into question whether the SRL’s first stage will ever be built. Their worry is that this stage is so heavily dependent on future stages to validate its value. Infrastructure Australia noted that the cost benefit analysis often didn’t include immediate returns, while failing to consider later stages.
Nonetheless, the federal government has made a substantial bet on the project, committing a first investment of $2.2 billion. This financial support reinforces the priority being given by the government on improving Melbourne’s infrastructure to accommodate its expanding population.
Addressing Resident Concerns
The construction of SRL East has sparked health concerns among residents in Heatherton, who have reported feeling unwell due to vibrations and noise. A local resident, Ms. Hornstein, described her experience:
"I could hear a bit of a hum outside, which was a new sound," she said. "So I stepped outside into the backyard, and the hum was louder and the motion sickness straight away felt stronger."
Premier Jacinta Allan emphasized the steps taken by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority to alleviate resident discomfort:
"Where there is works that are happening close to homes, that it does come with a level of disruption," Ms. Allan stated. "It's why there has been careful monitoring of the noise and there has been work with those residents — and we'll continue to do that — understanding that they need to be supported through the construction of the project."
Importance of Comprehensive Planning
Premier Allan defended the project’s phased approach, asserting that evaluating the benefits of SRL requires a long-term perspective.
"Because it is a project that is being delivered in stages, you have to look at the benefits together," she noted.
At an estimated $50 billion the Suburban Rail Loop looks more like a long-term fix than a short-term one. It accommodates Melbourne’s long-term growth. The comprehensive vision includes improving access to essential services such as schools, universities, and hospitals across Victoria:
"Victoria is a big and busy state and we need to invest in the transport infrastructure projects that support more homes, better access to schools, to universities, to hospitals," Ms. Allan emphasized.
The Suburban Rail Loop remains a significant element on Infrastructure Australia's priority list, reflecting its potential to drive economic growth and improve urban connectivity.
"That's why Infrastructure Australia has identified the Suburban Rail Loop on its priority list," Ms. Allan mentioned.
