Wednesday, 18 October 2023

Suburban Rail Loop

John MULLAHY (Glen Waverley) (19:11): (386) My adjournment matter is for the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, and the action I seek is for the minister to visit my electorate of Glen Waverley to see the works that are currently being undertaken. A new worksite on Montclair Avenue, near your office, Deputy Speaker, just off Kingsway, is due to open very soon, and earlier this year in June works were undertaken on Coleman Parade near the existing Glen Waverley station. These works relocated the water pipes under Coleman Parade, which was achieved through the use of a microtunnelling machine which drilled through the road surface to pull the pipe through the tunnels.

My constituents of Glen Waverley are looking forward to the completion of the Suburban Rail Loop. In fact they voted for it in 2018, and they voted again for it last year. For the past century Melbourne’s growth, development and public transport system have been based around our CBD, radiating onwards. Moving forward, we need to become a city of centres and to become more sustainable. The SRL plays a key role in this strategy. It is the biggest transport project in Victorian history and will reshape our city for the years to come. SRL East is the first stage of the project from Cheltenham to Box Hill, with stops in Clayton, Monash Uni, Glen Waverley and Burwood. The decrease in travel times from Glen Waverley to Melbourne’s education, health and employment centres will be significant. A trip from Glen Waverley to Monash University will be slashed from 20 minutes to 4 minutes. Similarly, a trip from Glen Waverley to Deakin Uni in Burwood will be cut from 30 minutes to 4 minutes. The SRL is more than just an infrastructure project; it is going to transform Melbourne for generations to come with slashed travel times and improved community amenity. Thanks to the Allan Labor government, it is not just a concept, it is becoming a reality, with major construction now underway. I am proud to be doing what matters and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop for my community in Glen Waverley. I look forward to the minister’s response.