Infrastructure and Local Insights
Bayside has long been sought after for its beautiful beachside location, convenience, outstanding local amenity and access to excellent schools – and those elements will continue to deliver for the municipality in the coming 12 months.
The Victorian Government’s $50 billion Suburban Rail Loop will reshape the way people live and commute in Bayside, reducing congestion and enhancing connectivity across the region. This massive project will trigger investment near the new train station at Sir William Fry Reserve, and deliver critical connections to surrounding suburbs, the CBD and Melbourne Airport via an orbital link.
The council will invest $73.9 million in community infrastructure over the coming financial year. More than half of this will be spent on key sports and recreation infrastructure upgrades, including $15.05 million for the Bayside Netball Centre, $6.9 million for the Tulip St Basketball extension, and $7.6 million for four sports ground pavilion upgrades.
In addition, more than $50 million will be invested in new buildings for Bayside's active and vibrant community, $4.1 million on roads, $2.7 million for footpaths and bicycle paths, and $6.9 million on parks, open space and streetscapes.
Vibrant Brighton East Village and Beaumaris Concourse have already undergone streetscape improvements and the Sandringham precinct will next be upgraded to create more community space and improve the appearance of the shopping village. This includes expanding and upgrading Sandringham Library and refurbishing the heritage-listed Masonic Hall. Streetscape works will also be undertaken in Black Rock Village.
Bayside’s beautiful beaches are being improved with a raft of investments to target community facilities along the bay. Work on a renewed pavilion at Black Rock Life Saving Club will start later this year and the Dendy Street Beach Life Saving Pavilion will be the centrepiece of a $10.6 million upgrade to improve the iconic precinct. Half Moon Bay will become safer and more accessible with new pedestrian crossings, safety improvements to the Beach Road entrance, and upgraded public lighting and public seating.
Schools remain central to Bayside’s appeal to families, with three government and six non-government secondary schools including Brighton Grammar, Haileybury and St Leonard’s College. Homes in government school zones continue to be keenly sought, with prices attracting premiums.
Spending on playgrounds across Bayside over the coming decade will be another boon for young families, with the council allocating more than $10 million to this program of work.
In October, work on the Chain of Ponds at Elsternwick Park Nature Reserve will be complete. As part of the extensive wetlands, the ponds will include a main stream, ephemeral soaks and billabongs, and will extend from the northeast corner down to the centre of the reserve. The community will be able to enjoy the ponds via walkways and viewing points.
For all of these reasons and more, Bayside remains an aspirational location in which to reside, with property prices to continue to reflect that demand in the long term.
© Jellis Craig 2021