$3 million for Maldon-Dombarton rail link

The further $3 million commitment will fund detailed planning and engineering work needed to obtain firm costings and determine the viability of the project.
Work will commence later this year and will take around 18 months to complete.
Findings of the pre-feasibility study commissioned by the Federal Government were also released on July 8th.
The study found that completing the rail line between Maldon and Port Kembla via Dombarton has long term economic merit - but acknowledges more work needs to be done before sensible decisions can be made on the project.
The study has found the line could provide a strategic alternative to the current Moss Vale-Unandarra and Illawarra line for freight trains; support the Port's rapidly expanding commercial activities; and generate considerable employment within the local construction industry.
The study also notes that the project should be developed within the context of a comprehensive national port and freight strategy - which the Federal Government has already commenced work on.
Infrastructure Australia (IA) is commissioned to work with the National Transport Commission (NTC) to develop a National Ports Strategy for consideration by the Council of Australian Governments (COAG).
The aim of the Strategy is to ensure the efficient movement of goods into and out of AUstralia's ports which will help boost Australia’s export performance and future economic productivity.
In the past, there have been many examples where port expansions have not been properly coordinated with land-side developments such as rail.
The result has been bottlenecks and congestion around the nation's busiest ports - outcomes which the National Ports Strategy aims to prevent in the future.
The assessments undertaken to date on the Maldon-Dombarton rail link - plus the further work announced on July 8th - will all be submitted to IA to assist in the development of the Strategy.

A full copy of the study can be downloaded from:
www.nationbuildingprogram.gov.au/publications/reports/index.aspx