Melbourne’s Priciest Suburbs Targeted for Height Boosts

Major height uplifts in another tranche of tram and train-adjacent areas in Melbourne, including some of its most expensive suburbs, are on exhibition.

Public consultation for the final 23 Train and Tram Zone activity centres is active as this latest round builds on an initial pilot project of 25 areas. 

For some of those blue-ribbon areas, where incomes average more than $266,000, building height lifts are proposed.

For example, at Hawksburn near its station on the Frankston line, buildings could rise 12 storeys, at Toorak, heights could rise to six storeys, while at neighbouring Armadale, a 10-storey height control could be introduced along the tram line towards the Armadale train station. 

A section of the areas around tram and train lines at Malvern could lift to 16 storeys in places, while Toorak Village train station could be neighboured by buildings up to 10 storeys. 

In eastern Melbourne, buildings could rise up to 12 storeys at Mitcham and Nunawading and 16 storeys at Blackburn station tram and train zones. 

But the biggest changes are at Caulfield, where apartment buildings could rise up to 20 storeys. The Caulfield activity centre includes a proposed strategic development site that is going under a separate planning process with the local council, which aligns with the proposed height uplift. 

That is also the case at Glen Huntly and Ormond, where the sliver of land on either side of the tram route could become home to developments rising 12 storeys, while at Elsternwick, buildings could be between five and 12 storeys. 

▲ Areas along tram and train lines and stations are earmarked for activity centre height lifts by the Victorian government.

At Mentone, 21km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, heights could rise to eight storeys. 

In the City of Boroondara, areas at Willison and Riversdale near their train stations on the Alamein route could rise up to six storeys on larger sites, and in the outer regions up to three storeys and four storeys on larger sites. 

In neighbouring Ashburton, buildings would rise up to eight storeys, with other areas rising up to six storeys. 

Height lift on cards for southern centres

On the Sandringham train line, Windsor, Prahran and South Yarra are also subject to height rises. 

The areas, which also intersect with the Frankston, Cranbourne and Pakenham lines with six tram lines running through the wider area, would rise up to 16 storeys at South Yarra and Prahran, and 12 storeys at Windsor.  

At Dandenong, 30km south-east of the Melbourne CBD, Springvale, Noble Park, Yarraman and Dandenong stations are on the Cranbourne and Pakenham train lines, which join the Sunbury line via the Metro tunnel.

At Springvale, rezoning plans for the tram and train line-adjacent areas could mean projects rise up to 16 storeys, and 12 storeys at Noble Park. 

At the Yarraman Station outer catchment, up to three storeys are planned and four storeys proposed for larger sites. 

The aim of the proposals is to support the development of 3000,000 new homes across these activity centres by 2051, according to the Victorian Government.

Sixty train and tram zone activity centres are to be developed as part of the project.