Wednesday, 27 August 2025

Suburban Rail Loop

John MULLAHY (Glen Waverley) (19:20): (1289) To wrap this up, my adjournment matter is directed to the Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop, and the action I seek is for the minister to join me in meeting with the traders of the Kingsway precinct, Glen Waverley, to discuss the impacts of the Suburban Rail Loop East works and the support available throughout this period. I want to acknowledge the many businesses that continue to serve our community with resilience during these works. Craig Lane has been a driving force in Glen Waverley’s dining scene, establishing venues such as the Steak Ministry, Paradise Road and the Elephant Corridor, each adding to the vibrancy of Kingsway. His newest venture Gambino, created with Garen Maskal and Aret Arzadian, has quickly become a standout rooftop destination, pairing refined dining with sweeping views across Melbourne. Garen, along with cousins Aret and Sasoon Arzadian, are behind the much-loved Black Toro. Its bold flavours and modern take on Latin-inspired cuisine have made it both a local favourite and a drawcard well beyond Glen Waverley, reflecting the entrepreneurial migrant spirit that has shaped Kingsway.

We also have Mitchell Zadow and the team at Sharrock Pitman Legal, who for many years have provided trusted legal services to both residents and small businesses. Their reputation was recently recognised when Mitchell was named Law Firm Leader 2025 by Australasian Lawyer. Kingsway is equally renowned for its outstanding Chinese restaurants, grocery stores and in recent years bubble tea shops. From established institutions to hidden gems in side streets, they are at the heart of what makes Glen Waverley a diverse and celebrated food destination.

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I want to make a special mention of Lisa and Tony at the House of Delight, whose warmth and hospitality have made their restaurant a much-loved gathering place in our community.

Meanwhile, SRL works are progressing rapidly. Crews are relocating underground services beneath Railway Parade North, Coleman Parade, Myrtle Street and Montclair Avenue to prepare for twin tunnels and a new underground station. This station will sit in the heart of the business district, providing turn-up-and-go services for over 7000 passengers a day and linking to Monash University in 3½ minutes. It will be a catalyst for new homes, double local jobs by 2050 and create 8000 direct jobs during construction.

I acknowledge that these works are disruptive. The project teams are working to maintain access to homes and businesses, manage traffic, reduce noise and dust and keep car parks open where possible. Importantly, the Suburban Rail Loop Authority has established a dedicated business support team to promote local traders, run events, provide marketing assistance, deliver signage and undertake financial baseline surveys to help reduce these impacts. I thank Kingsway traders, the Glen Waverley Traders Association, for their resilience and ongoing commitment during this once-in-a-lifetime generation build, and I look forward to hosting the minister out in Glen Waverley, and hopefully we can sample some of these businesses’ fine wares while she is there.