Thursday, 29 August 2024

Ministers statements: Suburban Rail Loop

Jacinta ALLAN (Bendigo East – Premier) (14:36): Our government is getting on and delivering the Suburban Rail Loop, which will forever change the way Victorians move around our city and state. I have already mentioned the train connection to Deakin University Burwood and Monash University Clayton. I should acknowledge the great work of the member for Clarinda as well. He works very, very hard. By 2026 there will be tunnel-boring machines in the ground. There will be 4000 Victorians working on this project as we get on and deliver a project that is not just a transport project; it is a project that is going to deliver the opportunity for 70,000 homes around those six new station locations, exactly in the right place, exactly where Victorians want to live – good, affordable, livable homes connected to good, strong public transport.

One of the areas of course that we are delivering this in is Cheltenham, which is exactly a place with great schools, public transport and public health care. This is a little bit like the community a little bit further down the road in Brighton – another very well connected community. I want to acknowledge the hardworking Minister for Planning, who has just approved a brand new two-storey development of 84 new homes in exactly the right location. We all know how thrilled to the back teeth the member for Brighton is about this development, how much he knows it is important for young families in Brighton to live close to their loved ones, close to good public transport and close to jobs. That is exactly what we will continue to deliver: public transport and homes for more Victorians.

The SPEAKER: I acknowledge in the gallery former MLC Jan Kronberg.