Caulfield Station Precinct

Caulfield Station Precinct Structure Plan – Status

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has concluded its preparation of a Key Ideas paper for the Caulfield station precinct.  The work will enable council to prepare a draft structure plan and planning scheme amendment for the future development of the precinct.

Responsibility for future planning work will be Glen Eira City Council but the VPA will continue to provide support in a reduced role.

For future updates, refer to the Glen Eira City Council website at Caulfield Station Precinct.

Overview

Located 10km southeast of Melbourne’s central business district within the municipality of Glen Eira, the Caulfield Station Precinct is centred around Caulfield Train Station and bounded by Kambrook Road to the west, Queens Avenue to the east, Dandenong Road to the north and Neerim Road to the south.

This precinct includes Caulfield Racecourse Reserve, Monash University’s Caulfield campus, Glen Eira College, Derby Road shopping strip, Caulfield Village, Glen Huntly Park and East Caulfield Recreation Reserve as well as housing and industrial land.

The below map displays the location and context of the Caulfield Station Precinct.

Caulfield Station Precinct Location and Context map

Caulfield Station Precinct – Location and Context map

Project information

Located 10km southeast of Melbourne’s CBD within the municipality of Glen Eira, the Caulfield Station Precinct is centred around Caulfield Train Station and bounded by Kambrook Road to the west, Queens Avenue to the east, Dandenong Road to the north and Neerim Road to the south.

This precinct includes Caulfield Racecourse Reserve, Monash University’s Caulfield campus, Glen Eira College, Derby Road shopping strip, Caulfield Village, Glen Huntly Park and East Caulfield Recreation Reserve as well as existing and new housing and industrial land.

With strong transport links – including a train station with multiple train lines, a bus interchange, tram line and major freeway – and key attractions such as a Monash University campus and Caulfield Racecourse Reserve, the precinct is well placed to attract future investment and visitors.

The site is identified as an Education Precinct in Plan Melbourne 2017-2050, the city’s metropolitan strategy, due to Monash University’s Caulfield campus and is recognised in local and state policy as a location that can support additional housing, employment and recreational facilities.

Glen Eira City Council, with support from the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA), is undertaking long-term planning for this precinct to maximise the opportunities that come with population growth and investment for the community and to fully realise the potential of this place.

A structure plan is a land use plan that sets a long-term vision for how the area will develop in the future. These plans provide certainty for community members and developers about what change is expected in an area and can respond to matters including but not limited to land use and development, transport and parking, building and urban design, heritage, character, employment, open spaces, and infrastructure provision. The intention is for the structure plan to be implemented through a planning scheme amendment.

The precinct includes a number of sites on the Victorian Heritage Registrar and of local heritage significance within the Glen Eira Planning Scheme. The structure planning process will consider existing local character and heritage.

The precinct includes a number of large trees and areas of vegetation that support local biodiversity.  A preliminary tree canopy cover analysis of the Precinct has been conducted by the Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) to identify the existing tree canopy coverage.

Further assessment will be conducted by Council to ensure existing vegetation is incorporated and enhanced part of the structure plan.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) engaged urban designers to investigate:

  • precinct character
  • appropriate building heights and density for redevelopment
  • and how new buildings should interact with the surrounding residential interfaces.

The residential, commercial, mixed-use, community, education and racing uses of the Precinct have informed building heights that support the needs and growth of the Precinct.

Strategic Cycling Corridors (SCC) are a subset of the Principal Bicycle Network, which is a network of cycle routes to help people to ride to major destinations around Melbourne.  SCC are developed to improve cycling to an around major activity centres in metropolitan Melbourne and will typically be selected on the basis of providing links to a ‘National Employment Cluster’ or a ‘Major Activity Centre’ and are routes that cater for the highest, or potentially highest, cycling volumes.

Who is involved?

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) has now handed over lead responsibility for the project to Glen Eira City Council who will work in partnership with VPA, Stonnington City Council, and state government agencies.

The Victorian Planning Authority (VPA) is a State Government statutory authority that reports to the Minister for Planning. The VPA has handed over preparation of a structure plan for the precinct to the Glen Eira City Council.

Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust (CRRT) is established under the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Act 2017 with responsibility for planning, development, management, operation, care, promotion and use of the Reserve for racing, recreation and public park purposes plan.

Glen Eira City Council is the planning authority for the precinct, responsible for preparation of the structure plan, facilitating amendments to the Glen Eira Planning Scheme and for issuing planning permits.

Stonnington City Council is the adjoining Council, responsible for issuing planning permits on land to the north of Dandenong Road and is providing input into the preparation of the structure plan through the project steering group.

Department of Transport is a state government agency responsible for planning for the future of the metropolitan transport network and is taking a leading role in the transport planning component of the structure plan.

The Melbourne Racing Club has operated racing and training activities at Caulfield racecourse since 1876.

You can read more about the MRC here.

In 2018 the Victorian Government approved a long-term lease with Melbourne Racing Club to secure horse racing at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve for another 65 years. As part of the lease arrangements, horse training at Caulfield Racecourse Reserve will be relocated over a five-year phase-out period. This will result in increased community access to the centre of the reserve, making more land available for recreation and other activities for longer periods of the day.

The Melbourne Racing Club has developed a long-term vision for Caulfield Racecourse Reserve that includes significant financial investment and a proposal to upgrade facilities and infrastructure on land within their lease area.

Any chances to the reserve would be subject to normal planning processes and approvals and would be considered by the Caulfield Racecourse Reserve Trust.

Supporting Documentation

Caulfield Station Precinct - Key Ideas
Caulfield Station Precinct - Key Ideas PDF  Version
Key Ideas Paper - Phase 2 - Community Engagement Report - March 2020
Key Ideas Paper - Phase 2 - Community Engagement Report - March 2020 PDF  Version
Caulfield Precinct - Location and Context map
Caulfield Precinct - Location and Context map PDF  Version
Community visioning workshop presentation (20 June 2018)
Community visioning workshop presentation (20 June 2018) PDF  Version
Caulfield Station Precinct - Engagement Summary (August 2018)
Caulfield Station Precinct - Engagement Summary (August 2018) PDF  Version