The Victorian Government is planning the Suburban Rail Loop (SRL), a 90-kilometre rail line connecting major train services from Frankston to Werribee via Melbourne Airport. The SRL East (SRLE) section includes an underground rail line from Cheltenham to Box Hill, with significant aboveground infrastructure required at Box Hill and Burwood Stations within the City of Whitehorse. This development is crucial for the community’s future identity and functionality. The new Box Hill Station is considered a “connecting” station located at the end of SRL “East” and at the start of the proposed SRL “North”. When complete, it will connect the southeast regions of Melbourne, to the northern regions of Melbourne. The SRL project will cause substantial disruptions in Whitehorse, particularly affecting Box Hill Gardens, Box Hill Mall, and the broader activity center for over 10 years.

To guide this development, the Visioning the Box Hill Urban Realm and Integration with the Suburban Rail Loop Project was created. Council aims to influence the design of these spaces to align with its Vision for Box Hill and strategic documents, ensuring improvements benefit the Whitehorse community. The project focuses on four areas that will be redeveloped in Box Hill and is outlined as the following:

Focus Area 1 & 2: Box Hill Mall – Market Street & Main Street Malls
The redevelopment of the Box Hill Mall including both Market Street and Main Street, align with the construction of the new Box Hill SRLE Station which is to be located in Market Street.

Focus Area 3: Construction of the Pedestrian Promenade connecting Whitehorse Road to Box Hill Gardens
The Pedestrian Promenade is introduced as part of the SRLE design and addressed in Council’s Vision as a streetscape and “pocket” open space treatment. For the purposes of the Vision, the Promenade needs to incorporate generous streetscape widths with clear lines of sight between Whitehorse Road and the Box Hill Gardens.

Focus Area 4: Reconfiguration and expansion of the Whitehorse Road Linear Reserve
The Whitehorse Road Linear Reserve will see a significant reconfiguration between Nelson Road and Linsley Street. The centre median will expand to the south and adjoin the existing east-west footpaths.