.png)
Current Issues
State Government planning reforms
Major changes to planning legislation and regulation, ostensibly to facilitate accelerated delivery of new homes, are tending to centralise and standardise decision-making processes, reduce the role of local councils and remove the ability of impacted residents to have a say. These changes are threatening to allow the proliferation of poorly designed dwellings, unsympathetic to existing neighbourhood character, throughout our suburbs.
SHMAPA values the prevailing neighbourhood character, amenity and heritage of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert. We have a constructive attitude towards the evolution of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert, and welcome appropriate developments that respond to and respect neighbourhood character and values.
The Association is keen to engage with, and where necessary, challenge the State Government, Boroondara and Whitehorse Councils, developers, residents, traders and other stakeholders to achieve these aims.
SRL Box Hill - Impacts of planning changes on our suburbs
The Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) is a Victorian Government project, described as a "once-in-a-generation opportunity to shape the future liveability, productivity and connectivity of Melbourne". The 90km rail line will link every major rail line from the Frankston Line to the Werribee Line via Melbourne Airport with the aim of better connecting Victorians to jobs, retail, education, health services and each other.
Stage one of the project is SRL East (from Cheltenham to Box Hill), which the Government says will connect major employment, health, education and retail destinations in Melbourne’s east and south-east by slashing travel times, connecting people travelling on the Gippsland corridor and building and creating up to 8000 direct local jobs. Construction started June 2022 and trains will be running by 2035.
This enormous, city-shaping project relies on the development of high density living around its stations, including Box Hill, for its viability. After a major consultation and public hearing process, the Government is now considering changes to the Box Hill planning scheme to facilitate further high rise in, and extending out from, Box Hill Central. More housing is great, but not at the expense of poor design outcomes, lost open space and inadequate tree canopy cover that degrades liveability for everyone.
Securing the old Box Hill Brickworks site for parkland
This 7-hectare old quarry and tip site is the last significant site in the Box Hill area suitable for conversion to treed, recreational parkland. Such an open space resource would not only service new high-rise development in Box Hill, but also residents of postcode 3127 who currently lack ready access to such a parkland.
Unfortunately, there is a danger that, in the Government’s drive for new housing, the site will be all or mostly turned over to new high-rise development, resulting in a massive lost opportunity for current and future generations.
Presentation to SRL Box Hill Precinct Hearing
Impact of possible extension of Mont Albert Rd to Middleborough Rd
Related to the proposal to develop the Brickworks site for high density housing is another proposal to extend Mont Albert Road eastward from Elgar Road, through the site, presumably to service the new housing.
In our view this is unnecessary and would have the adverse effect of drawing more traffic through the heart if Surrey Hills and Mont Albert.
Impact of high density development on Zetland Road
Under the SRLA’s proposed Planning Scheme Arrangement (PSA) for Box Hill, high rise development will extend across Elgar Road into a traditional neighbourhood area of Mont Albert.
There is an obvious need for careful coordination of design outcomes to ensure a sensitive interface with adjacent heritage areas.
Increasing and improving Open Space in our suburbs
The suburbs of Surrey Hills and Mont Albert in postcode 3127 have the lowest per capita provision of open space in their respective municipalities and amongst the lowest in the metropolitan area generally.
As well as upgrading existing open spaces, we need to work with both councils to identify and secure new open spaces and to connect them effectively with passive transport networks (walking and cycling).
Protecting and increasing the tree canopy cover in our suburbs
Trees are an important mitigator of climate change and heat island effects and their proximity is known to be good for human health. The State Government has a target of 30% tree canopy cover across metropolitan Melbourne but achieving this seems to be at odds with their planning reforms which look to maximise site coverage and yield, reducing the opportunity for tree planting on private land.
We need to work with local councils and others to find ways to promote more tree coverage in our suburbs.
Presentation to SRL Box Hill Precinct Hearing
Parliamentary Inquiry Community Access to Parks and Open Space