Suburban Rail Loop Precincts show a pathway to Melbourne's Missing Middle

SRL Precincts cannot solve the housing crisis alone

The Victorian Government has promised to build higher-density housing around six Suburban Rail Loop stations. The 'Draft Precinct Visions' plan released today is a promising start but points to a government that appears reluctant to build more housing in Melbourne's existing, well-connected established suburbs.

Melbourne's inner and middle suburbs already have extensive train and tram lines which can enable up to 5 million new homes through medium density alone. These suburbs are where so many Melbournians seek to live, but cannot afford due to the lack of housing supply in these areas.

The full extent of Melbourne's iconic train and tram network must be leveraged to deliver new housing supply that enables Melburnians to access our great amenities and stay connected with their communities and the city at large. 

The Allen Government needs to recognise the value of greater medium density in Melbourne's Missing Middle as a complement to the SRL and the Housing Statement's aspirations.

12 precincts are just a fraction of the 1,992 possible precincts

The ambition of the SRL precincts is an exciting move from the state government as part of delivering new infrastructure. But 2035 is too far away for this to be a meaningful contribution to the housing crisis that is happening now.

We applaud the state government's commitment to rework our planning system over the coming year. The government has the opportunity right now to enable more density across existing infrastructure, by unlocking more housing supply across the 1,992 existing train and tram stops through inexpensive, revenue-generating upzoning.  

Melbourne cannot afford to fall behind Sydney

This past week, the New South Wales government announced major upzoning around all transit—taking a page from YIMBY Melbourne's flagship report, Melbourne's Missing Middle.

It is now time for the Victorian government to follow suit, with an even more ambitious implementation of Melbourne's Missing Middle, enabling six-storey, Parisian density around all our train and tram stations—regardless of previous zoning.

Quotes attributable to Jonathan O'Brien, Lead Organiser

" Melbourne cannot afford to fall behind Sydney. As our city's growth increases, so too must our urban density."

"The Suburban Rail Loop's precincts are an exciting demonstration of government ambition to build a more liveable, affordable, and sustainable Melbourne, and we look forward to their completion by 2035."

"In the meantime, though, Melbourne needs action now, around all our city's existing infrastructure, to enable more homes to be built where people want to live."