Mini-metropolises mooted for new Melbourne rail loop

Box Hill is set to become an even bigger city given it will be getting the largest of the stations in the Suburban Rail Loop station precinct initiative. There will be six stations including Clayton, Monash, Glen Waverley, Burwood and Southland in Cheltenham. Stage One of the loop, which will run 26km from Cheltenham to Box Hill, is set to begin construction next year. High density housing towers are expected in what will be mini-metropolises that cluster jobs, housing and education. The Herald Sun reported more detailed station footprint designs have emerged, showing where existing properties will be acquired for the project’s underground hubs. But the state government won't provide details on height limits proposed for each of the station areas until an investment case is released. The Box Hill precinct is already classified as a metropolitan activity centre and is set to see an expansive overlay given it will be the largest underground station precinct, due to its length of 350 metres as its crosses Whitehorse Road. Box Hill is set to become an even bigger city given it will be getting the largest of the stations in the Suburban Rail Loop station precinct initiative. The Herald Sun advised Glen Waverley is the likely to have a similar density and height limit around the station, with some towers already 15-storeys. There is a push for the Moorabbin airport precinct to be included in the Suburban Rail Loop which will have 26km of tunnels. Recently Opposition transport infrastructure spokesman David Davis said the government should be looking at key locations for stations like the Moorabbin Airport, and "not ridden roughshod over Heatherton residents forcing train stabling into long-protected green-wedge land.”