50 new ‘train and tram zone’ activity centres to encourage new apartment development across Melbourne

The Allan Labor Government will deliver more homes for young people, families and downsizers around 50 train stations and tram stops in Melbourne’s inner suburbs.

In an expansion of the Government’s Activity Centre program, Premier Jacinta Allan and Minister for Planning Sonya Kilkenny visited Middle Brighton Station today to announce the station will form the heart of one of 50 new ‘train and tram zone’ Activity Centres to help deliver more than 300,000 additional homes across Melbourne by 2051.

The new ‘train and tram zones’ encourage more homes around high-frequency train lines – with the first 25 announced today focusing on stations that benefit from the Metro Tunnel and the well-serviced Frankston, Sandringham, Belgrave/Lilydale and Glen Waverley Lines.

Premier Jacinta Allan said building more homes around 50 inner-suburban train stations means young people have more opportunity to rent or buy a place that’s directly connected to public transport.

“I know it won’t fix everything, but it will deliver more homes and new life to inner suburbs that are full of jobs, transport and services – where young buyers and renters are currently locked out.”

Melbourne’s train network has completely transformed over the last 10 years, with more services, more than 50 new or upgraded stations, 84 level crossings gone for good, more to go – and the Metro Tunnel on its way next year.

• Seven centres connected to the new Metro Tunnel will enjoy a service boost on new trains – Carnegie, Hughesdale, Murrumbeena, Oakleigh, Middle Footscray, West Footscray and Tottenham Stations.
  
• Six centres along the Belgrave/Lilydale Line (and the existing Camberwell and Ringwood activity centres) benefit from 5-minute peak services: Hawthorn, Glenferrie, Auburn, Blackburn, Nunawading and Mitcham Stations.
  
• On the Frankston Line, four centres are located at Toorak, Hawksburn, Armadale and Malvern Stations. All level crossings on this line will go, and trains will return to the City Loop when the Metro Tunnel opens.
  
• On the Sandringham Line, where eight trains per hour run during peak times, four centres are located at North Brighton, Middle Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham Stations.
  
• On the Glen Waverley line, where nine trains per hour run during peak times, centres are located at Tooronga Station, Darling Station, plus a combined centre covering both Gardiner and Glen Iris Stations.
  
• One centre, Toorak Village, is a built-up area along the Route 58 tram. This centre plus Middle Footscray are classified as smaller ‘neighbourhood activity centres’ to plan for more modest growth.

The locations for the remaining 25 of 50 ‘train and tram zone’ Activity Centres will be announced in late 2024 with the release of Plan For Victoria – a comprehensive plan to support the future of every community in the state.

All but one of the first 25 of 50 centres are based directly on train stations and all are serviced by trains, following community feedback on the 10 draft Activity Centre Plans emphasising the importance of transport connections.

The 25 centres will be delivered in two tranches over the next 12 months, with timelines to be communicated clearly. The process for all 50 new centres is likely to be complete by 2026.

The 50 new centres add to the 10 initial Activity Centres in Broadmeadows, Camberwell, Chadstone, Epping, Frankston, Moorabbin, Niddrie, North Essendon, Preston and Ringwood – but the plans won’t be the same, because every community is different.

"Activity Centre planning is about building more opportunities and better communities by setting clear expectations for long-term growth, giving the community a say early, and streamlining planning to unblock home building," the VIC Government stated.

"Overall, the vision for train and tram zones is for taller buildings in the immediate ‘core’ at the station, with gentler, scaled height limits and more low-rise apartments and townhouses alongside existing houses in the walkable catchments surrounding."

The Activity Centre Pilot Program was announced in Victoria’s Housing Statement. Alongside delivering 13,300 new social and affordable homes, and Australia’s largest housing project – the Suburban Rail Loop and its six housing precincts.

Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, said the program is planning for Melbourne's future.

“This isn’t about overnight change – this is about incremental change that sets Victoria up for the next generation, so we can have more opportunities for young people and better communities for everyone," Kilkenny said.

“Many of these communities have never had a formal plan for their future before, and this process will enhance what’s special about these suburbs while delivering more homes near transport, shops, schools, services and parks.”

The Allan Government has also just announced it is removing stamp duty in full for off the plan buyers for 12 months.