Page | 1

The following 3 key Urban Design Principles have been prepared to guide the

development of rail projects being delivered by Rail Projects Victoria (RPV) along the

Melbourne Airport Rail (MAR) corridor. These principles supplement the Urban Design

Principles for the Sunshine Station Precinct and the Albion Station Precinct, focusing on

the issues and imperatives for the corridor outside these town centre sites.

These Draft Principles have been prepared to establish a consistent message from

Council, which will be tested and updated in line with the Community’s expectations of

the project. Once finalised, the Principles will establish a consistent message and provide

certainty to the design and delivery teams when negotiating appropriate outcomes along

the corridor.

Page | 3



Ensure that the regionally significant Sydenham Shared Use Path

from Footscray to Watergardens is incorporated along the eastern

side of the corridor with a dedicated crossing of the MAR line at St

Albans Road.



Ensure that a regional cycle path is provided along the MAR Line

from Albion to Tullamarine.



Ensure that high quality regional cycle link connections across the

rail corridor are provided to align with the current and planned

network.



Ensure that continuous parallel pedestrian paths and linkages are

provided along both sides of the rail line.



Ensure that new and upgraded pedestrian linkages across the rail

corridor are located and designed as part of an integrated public

realm network.



Ensure that local cycle connections across the Line are provided at

all current and possible future station locations.



Retain and upgrade existing at-grade pedestrian connections across

the railway line.



Ensure that cross-corridor connectivity is increased along the

corridor.



Ensure that new infrastructure minimises the barrier effect of the

rail corridor on cross corridor movement.



Ensure that new infrastructure minimises the visual impact of the

rail corridor on its surroundings.



Ensure that new infrastructure minimises and does not exacerbate

the acoustic impacts of rail on the existing and future surrounding

communities.



Ensure the design and treatment of noise walls, new flyovers,

embankments, bridges, substations and compounds are considered

holistically, responding to local character and as part of an

overarching urban design strategy.



Ensure a high-quality, contextually responsive landscape and noise

wall design is delivered along the full corridor.



Ensure that the design of a new rail bridge parallel to the Albion

Trestle (Maribrynong Viaduct) is sympathetic to the heritage and

aesthetic values of the structure.



Ensure that new rail tracks and associated works adjacent to the

Matthews Hill grassland reserve maintains the ecological, historical

and culturally significant aspects of the site.



Ensure a wayfinding strategy is integrated in the corridor design.



Ensure a minimum of 30% canopy cover to the public realm,

minimising the removal of existing vegetation along the corridor

and maximising replacement and infill planting along the corridor.



Ensure all new landscaping and tree planting is designed and

installed to ensure long-term survival, taking into account

foreseeable additional infrastructure and climate change scenarios.



Ensure Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD) is integrated in all

aspects of the project.



Ensure Biodiversity Sensitive Urban Design (BSUD) is integrated in

all aspects of the project.

Page | 4



Take a pro-active and “whole of government” approach to

assembling land in a way which catalyses investment and

regeneration along the corridor.



Future proof potential (Suburban Rail Loop) station and corridor

opportunities and associated future road and pedestrian grade

separated crossings.



Consult and communicate clearly with potentially affected

community members and established community groups as part of

the design development process.