Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has called for the Federal Government to support the Murray Basin Rail Project, after the state government announced it would put $220 million towards it on Monday.
The project, worth $416 million in total, will standardise and upgrade the entire Murray Basin rail network.
Lines from Geelong to Mildura, Manangatang, Sea Lake and Murrayville will be upgraded and standardised, and the standard-gauge connection between Maryborough and Ararat will be re-opened.
Andrews, joined by public transport minister Jacinta Allan and agriculture minister Jaala Pulford, said the project would enhance connections to the Port of Melbourne, and would fix missing links in Victoria’s freight network.
Axle loading on Murray Basin freight lines will be increased to 21 tonnes, allowing larger trains to carry more product with each trip. More freight on rail, Andrews argued, meant 20,000 truck trips off the roads each year, and a more competitive export industry in Victoria.
“The Andrews Labor Government is committed to the full Murray Basin Rail Project, which will boost the safety, capacity and reliability of freight services and better connect primary producers to the state’s major ports,” the premier said.
“This is good for farmers, their families and our economy, and we’re calling on the Abbott Government to step up and contribute to this critical project.”
“Standardising the Murray Basin rail network, and increasing the loads it can carry, will allow primary producers to get more produce to port, more efficiently – boosting jobs and the regional economy,” public transport minister Jacinta Allan added.
Victoria has allocated up to $220 million from its 2015/16 Budget for the project. $5 million of that was fast-tracked in February to get work started on critical maintenance and safety works.
Andrews has written to deputy prime minister Warren Truss asking for Commonwealth funding. The business case, also released on Monday, was been sent to Infrastructure Australia for assessment.
On the current timetable, major works are expected to commence in the second half of 2016. 270 jobs will be created during construction, Andrews said.
“Food and fibre are the future of our economy. By supporting our farmers to get their goods to market faster, we’re boosting exports and making sure we stay ahead of the game,” minister for agriculture Jaala Pulford concluded.
A Labor State Government actively supporting rail. Could we take some of the “can do” and apply it to the Queensland impasse on the Galilee rail project?
Don’t expect any assistance from the current Federal Government – they are only interested in football stadiums!