“The Victorian Planning Authority is leading the preparation of a structure plan for the Caulfield Station Precinct, in partnership with Glen Eira City Council, Stonnington City Council, the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) and Transport for Victoria (TfV).
You are invited to share your thoughts and ideas about how to best shape the future of this place for the community by attending a Community Visioning Workshop.
The purpose of this workshop is to inform the community of the planning process and to seek views and input into the future of the area.
Registrations are essential. Light refreshments will be provided.”
Date: Wednesday 20 June 2018
Time: 6.30 – 9.00pm
Location: Monash University Caulfield, Ground Floor, Building H, Room H116 (Caulfield Campus Map)
GERA strongly urges both Glen Eira and Stonnington residents and recreational/sporting groups and clubs to attend this workshop to get an understanding of what is being proposed and an awareness of it’s potential “flow on” impacts for surrounding areas.
We also encourage completing the VPA online survey.
*****************************
This the first opportunity for the community input into the development of Structure Plans for the 122 ha Caulfield Station Precinct* and its surrounding areas since the VPA was appointed to lead the planning exercise in August, 2017. At that time the VPA advised that
“Several key activities attract workers, residents and visitors to the area including Monash University’s Caulfield campus, Caulfield Racecourse, Glen Eira College, retail outlets, parks and recreational areas. The structure plan will promote transit-orientated development and identify opportunities for growth in employment, education, housing and associated activities. We will also work with the Melbourne Racing Club and our government partners to seek to unlock future shared recreational use of racecourse land.”
The initial information and input session focuses on the four core activity centre components and their connectivity within the precinct. The significant planning and development implications for Glen Eira (south of Dandenong Road) and Stonnington’s (north of Dandenong Road) surrounding commercial/residential areas and proximate activity centres are to be included in subsequent consultations. Recent multi storey multi unit developments, along the northern side of Dandenong Road, indicate the development potential of the areas surrounding the precinct.
Briefly, the four core components of the Caulfield Station Precinct are
Caulfield Village
A major residential, retail and commercial development located between the Racecourse and the Rail Line. Currently under construction, it comprises
- 2,674 new dwellings ((City of Glen Eira Analysis of housing consumption and opportunities 2017)
- Retail (including a supermarket) and commercial areas with a square footage estimated to be akin to that of a neighbourhood activity
- Buildings varying in height from 2 stories along Kambrook Road to a 20-22 storey office /residential tower located near the Station.
Worth noting is the redevelopment potential (multi-storey multi units) of MRC freehold land located along Kambrook/Booran Roads (shown on the above map as Horse Training and Stabling). This potential was flagged during the Strategic Land Management consultations conducted by the former Reserve Trustees in 2015. The current status of redevelopment plans is not known.
Monash University – Caulfield Campus
Unfortunately, 10 months into the Structure Planning process, little is known of the current redevelopment plans. As an indicative guide, some years ago redevelopment included
- an expansion from 10,000 Effective Fulltime Students (EFS) to 25,000 EFS.
- Construction of a series of high rise buildings to provide educational and administrative facilities with some retail facilities at ground level.
- Off campus multi storey student accommodation in close proximity to the Caulfield Campus
Caulfield Racecourse and Recreation Reserve
The Racecourse comprises 54 ha, of the 122 ha now designated the Caulfield Station Precinct, and offers a significant open space opportunity for Glen Eira (which has the least per capita open space/parkland in Metro Melbourne, coming in at less than half the Metro average) and Stonnington (which has the 2nd least). Both the size and location of this crown land make it suitable to service the recreational (passive and active) needs of the volumes (ie. residents, students, workers and patrons) expected to access the Precinct, as well as the needs of the increasing residents of the surrounding areas. Striking an equitable balance between public recreational usage and racing usage has long been a contentious issue and recently resulted in changes to management of the land that have yet to come into effect.
Caulfield Station
While GERA is not aware of plans to redevelop the heritage listed Caulfield Station, we believe its redevelopment (presumably as a rail/tram/bus interchange) will be required to service the public transport needs of those accessing the Precinct. When/if redevelopment occurs, it should include the “place making” historic Station and heritage listed buildings in Derby Road.
Connectivity of Core Components
Currently, the connectivity of the above core components is poor. It is restricted by the extremely divisive railway line and a fragmented road network. While access between Caulfield Village, the Racecourse and the Station is basically “across the street”, accessing Monash from these locations is restricted to 3 underpasses ie. Queen Avenue, Caulfield Station and Station Street. Free movement flows (predominantly pedestrian, with some vehicular movement for the provision of goods and services) within the Precinct is essential to enable synergetic development of precinct facilities (eg. auditoriums, open space and car parking) and ensure the long term viability of a cohesive activity centre.
***********
Footnote:
*Caulfield Station Precinct – is the previous Priority Development Zone, known as the Phoenix Precinct (ie. Caulfield Village and Monash University Caulfield Campus) expanded to include the Caulfield Racecourse & Recreation Reserve, Glen Eira College and Glen Huntly Park.
Glen Eira Residents' Association Inc 