Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has said his Government will commit up to $5 billion in a 50-50 funding deal with the Victorian Government on a rail connection to Melbourne Airport.
Speaking with the media on April 11, the PM said the people of Melbourne have waited long enough for a rail link to Australia’s second-busiest airport.
“The time for talk is over,” Turnbull was quoted across multiple sources. “There have been countless reviews, reports and recommendations but Melbourne is still waiting for a service almost all of the world’s great cities take for granted.”
Victoria’s Labor Government has made its desire to build a rail link to the airport a major talking point, with a state election scheduled later this year. The Liberal Opposition in Victoria has said Labor’s timeline for a rail line to be build within a decade is not a direct enough commitment.
Turnbull said the Federal Government would like the state to match its funding commitment for the rail line.
“This is the rail link that Melbourne, Victoria and the millions of people who use the airport every year demand and deserve,” he said.
“We are under no illusion that such a city-shaping project does not come cheap. That is why we are making such a significant commitment. We want the Victorian Government to partner with us in a true 50:50 funding partnership to build and own this iconic piece of infrastructure. We also welcome the involvement of the private sector.”
A public transport link between the Melbourne CBD and Melbourne Airport is currently listed by Infrastructure Australia as a priority initiative, putting it a tier below projects that have been assessed and approved by the independent body.
It would be interesting to see the numbers who use the Sky Bus. My experience is that next to none. People will still drive their vehicles to the airport as most live in cacoons. I think this will be a substantial drain on our budget with little return.
Assuming the new rail line gets built, I wonder what “surcharge” will be applied to it. Both Brisbane, and Sydney airports have surcharges, designed to limit the negative effects to the Taxi companies, and to not drop the numbers of cars at the very expensive airport car parks.