SWFR / Gasworks — Highett Progress Association

Sir William Fry Reserve / Gas Works

Last updated: 1 October 2026

Sir William Fry Reserve (SWFR) is being redesigned by the Suburban Rail Loop Authority (SRLA) and its contractor Suburban Connect (SC). The HPA is represented along with other community organisations at quarterly meetings of the SRL Precinct Reference Group (PRG), the most recent on 17 September 2026.

Project Overview:

Location: The planned Cheltenham SRL station (to eventually be renamed) will be on and under SWFR, facing Southland Shopping Centre. A bus transfer station will have entry/exit from Bay Road.

Future Plans: Of the total 8.5 hectares of SWFR, 1.14ha will be taken by the station and approximately 2.5 ha for residential or commercial towers up to 60 metres (17-18 storeys) and an access road from Nepean Highway. During construction until 2035-6, about half of SWFR will be closed, after which some will be returned for public access. No acoustic shed or roof is planned over the work site.

Public Space Obligations: The SRLA is required to offset existing public space permanently lost with ‘new open space of a similar size and quality’. SRLA plans for SWFR are available online. Or you can read the HPA September 2025 submission HERE.

Offset Public Space: New public space commitments have to date been limited to 1.14ha in the former gasworks site for a 20m pedestrian and cycle corridor along the Frankston rail line, a pocket park adjoining Station Street and an activity lawn west of Remington Drive.

Gasworks Site: The 1.14ha offset was transferred from Development Victoria (DV) to the SRLA in mid 2026. The remaining 5ha under DV control is earmarked for future housing ranging in height from 43 to 52m (12 to 15 storeys) under the SRLA Structure Plan. The previous commitment that 11.6% of that site will be allocated to public open space was reconfirmed by the SRLA in July 2026.

Park Enhancements and Amenities: The SRLA is currently enhancing the northern half of SWFR including a larger skate park, full size basketball and futsal court, pickleball court, new public toilets and off leash dog area.

Timing: In June 2026, it was announced that works in Highett had been rescheduled more than 12 months earlier so the rail corridor between Highett and Heatherton can be utilised for testing.

Tree Clearance: Approximately 300 trees are to be removed from SWFR with ninety new ones planted. The tree clearance was to have been largely completed by the end of 2026. It has been postponed to 2027, along with initial excavation at the southern end of the park. This follows deferral of the awarding of station contracts until after completion of a technical review requested by Premier Carroll.

Further information

Victoria’s Big Build website

https://bigbuild.vic.gov.au/library/suburban-rail-loop/reports/engagement-reports/final-designs-for-sir-william-fry-reserve

Updates

Potential Housing on Gasworks Site: In October, Premier Carroll announced that if the ALP is re-elected, the Gasworks would be one of several Government owned sites across Melbourne to support the construction of 25,000 homes offered exclusively to first home buyers between 2027 and 2034.
Precinct Reference Group (PRG), meeting held on 17 September 2026.
Recent Community Questions/Concerns:
Possible Home Acquisition: After recent discussion on social media of potential compulsory property acquisition, SRLA restated in the 17 September meeting that there are no such plans for the Cheltenham Precinct, which includes Highett.
Site Management: After issues in early September around the Skate Park now under construction and the Grassy Knoll in front of Vista Apartments, including poor dust suppression, open fences and uncovered trucks moving soil, the PRG was assured that SOP would be more closely followed in future.
HPA has requested that SRLA and its contractor Suburban Connect (SC) provide additional information which can be shared with the community relating to finished contour designs around the Grassy Knoll, drainage flow paths, spoil verification and site controls
Scope of Works: Rejuvenating the SWFR lake and upgrading the playground are outside the current plan and remain subject to discussions between the SRLA and City of Kingston. This remains a community concern. If the Lake is remediated, it will become the centre piece of SWFR. If it remains neglected, it will undermine all the good work and investment now underway.
SRL/SWFR September Updates:
Status: SRLA commenced tunnelling from Burwood on 7 September. Twin tunnels from Clarinda to Cheltenham are to begin in 2027. The Tunnel Boring Machines will eventually be extracted at the Cheltenham station site.
Bay Road Pedestrian Bridge: As announced in August 2026, the pedestrian and cycle bridge across Bay Rd has been deleted from plans. Connectivity between the new SRL station and Southland Shopping Centre and Metro station remains an outstanding issue.
Public Open Space: Work will continue on the northern end of the park to end 2026 or early 2027.
Access to Existing Amenities: The skate park and basketball court adjacent to Bay Road remain open until new facilities are available.
Former Petrol Station Site: Tank Removals are to commence from October.
Bay Rd north side footpath in front of the former petrol station will be closed until early 2027.