More details of the Melbourne Metro project have been drip-fed out of the Victorian Government this week.

Yesterday, the Minister for Public Transport announced the scope of properties which will need to be acquired as part of the Melbourne Metro project: the total quote sits at 44 buildings with 94 individual titles.

An apartment building in the CBD containing 49 apartments will be acquired along with houses located near the tunnel portals in South Kensington and South Yarra. A further 31 titles which have commercial properties on them are set to be acquired.

This morning, Jacinta Allan provided a clearer picture on the construction method for the CBD stations. "The heart of Melbourne will keep moving while the heart of our transport system is transformed below it" the Public Transport Minister said.

It appears that a relatively straightforward construction technique (straightfoward elsewhere in the world, new to us in Melbourne) will be used. Some surface properties will be acquired in order for crews to access the underbelly of the city and then excavate and construct the station infrastructure under the street.

One of the Premier's tweets illustrates the construction method:

The heart of Melbourne will keep moving while the heart of our transport system is transformed below it. #springst https://t.co/UEUDdQelKD — Daniel Andrews (@DanielAndrewsMP) October 20, 2015

377-391 Swanston Street: dead in the water?

Back in May we reported on the history of the 212-222 La Trobe Street site which was at the time being spruiked with a permit by Savills. This site in the video tweeted by the Premier appears that it will only be used during construction.

The video seems to suggest that the surface buildings for the CBD North Station will be on the 377-391 Swanston Street site.

Left: tower approved on 371-391 Swanston Street. Right: Aurora looks set to be CBD North's neighbour

Furthermore, judging by the now public domain video, Scape Melbourne's approved project on the 393 Swanston Street site will not be directly impacted during the construction of the station underbelly nor be taken up by the surface buildings.

The video also depicts the apartment building at 200 La Trobe Street disappearing from the skyline as well.

Next door to 212-222 La Trobe Street, the Aurora Melbourne Central tower's site (224-252 La Trobe Street) is being prepared, with the on-site multi-level car park currently being demolished. See our related forum thread for pictures of the site preparation.

Aurora Melbourne Central's official construction launch was this morning.