Australasian Railway Association boss Danny Broad says the funding announced for Inland Rail and various urban rail projects in the federal budget on May 3, but has urged the Turnbull Government to do more.
Responding to his first budget since being appointed ARA chief executive in October last year, Broad said a $594 million commitment for the ARTC to acquire land for Inland Rail was a vital first step.
“It is pleasing to see the Turnbull Government act on the report of the Inland Rail Implementation Group,” Broad said.
“It is also great to see ARTC taking charge of this project and being kept in Government ownership at this stage. This is welcomed by the rail freight industry.”
While he welcomed the funding, Broad made sure to emphasise that far more work needs to be done to make Inland Rail a reality.
“We call on the Turnbull Government to ensure Inland Rail remains a priority for Australia,” he said.
On the urban rail front, Broad was pleased with $1.7 billion in commitments to the Sydney Metro project, $857.2 million for the Melbourne Metro project , and $95 million for the second stage of the Gold Coast light rail line, among other measures.
But he said the Federal Government should go further on urban rail, by extending the Asset Recycling Scheme beyond June 30, and through value capture and other funding methods.
“We encourage the Federal Government to continue with the Asset Recycling Scheme as an effective funding model to achieve a much-needed reduction in urban congestion,” he said.
As for alternative funding models, he said, “we encourage the government to continue to further refine this approach,” but urged for continued traditional funding for “key projects that will relieve congestion in our major cities”.
Broad named Brisbane’s Cross River Rail project as a key example of one such project.
CRR received no funding commitments in the budget, a point laboured by Queensland treasurer Curtis Pitt, when he abandoned federal treasurer Scott Morrison of forgetting the Sunshine State altogether.
“The ARA looks forward to further funding support for critical projects in our major cities,” Broad concluded.