Monash station a step closer with more funding announced for Suburban Rail Loop
On behalf of the Monash University community, we welcome the Victorian Government’s announcement today that construction of the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL) East will begin next year, with $9.3 billion in new funding.
The SRL project will transform Victoria’s public transport system, providing an underground rail connection between Melbourne’s major employment, health services, education and activity precincts outside the central business district.
The Monash Technology Precinct is a world-leading innovation, employment and research ecosystem. Prioritising the Monash Technology Precinct in the first section of the SRL will provide industry and business with enhanced confidence to invest and access the globally competitive talent and expertise that the Precinct offers.
Importantly, the Monash SRL station will demonstrate the full potential of this city-shaping Victorian Government initiative, resolving long-standing transport, mobility and access issues.
Monash University President and Vice-Chancellor Professor Margaret Gardner AC said the on-campus Monash SRL station will provide great benefit for our 55,000 students, staff, researchers and wider community who commute to Monash’s Clayton campus and surrounding areas daily.
“As a major education, employment and innovation hub, Monash University attracts people from across Melbourne and internationally. Providing access to improved public transport options while limiting traffic congestion will benefit the thousands of people who visit our University, the Monash Technology Precinct and the surrounding areas on a daily basis,” Professor Gardner said.
”Within the next 12 months, major investments such as the Victorian Heart Hospital, the Monash Smart Manufacturing Hub and the Medicine Manufacturing Innovation Centre will be completed, therefore improved transport connections are essential.”
Monash University is continuing to work closely with the Suburban Rail Loop Authority and the Victorian Government throughout every stage of the project, including planning for tunnel alignment, station location, campus access and early works. It’s important that we get this intergenerational project right.
As the project progresses, it will be important to inform stakeholders of changes that may impact their day-to-day experience on campus and bring the Monash community along with us in anticipation of this once-in-a-lifetime development that will unlock opportunities for so many. Monash will do this hand in hand with SRL and the Victorian Government.