Major new investment in Victorian roads and rail
06 July 2017
The Turnbull Government has
announced a new $1.52 billion investment in Victorian infrastructure to
ease congestion and provide better rail services right across the state.
People deserve better public transport no matter where they live. That
is why the Coalition is unlocking funding for major upgrades to rail in
regional Victoria, creating over 1,000 new jobs.
The Turnbull Government will provide majority funding for these works,
investing $1.42 billion to improve services on most regional lines in
the state. Victoria has offered to provide $150 million towards these
works.
This investment will see new services added, travel times slashed and
stations upgraded, and include:
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$555.6 million—Ballarat Line
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$435 million—Gippsland Line
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$140 million—North East Line
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$110 million—Surf Coast rail including Waurn Ponds duplication
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$114 million—Warrnambool Line
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$91 million—Bendigo and Echuca Line
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$95 million—Avon River Bridge upgrade
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$20.2 million—Murray Basin freight rail, taking the total Commonwealth commitment to the project to $240 million
-
$10 million—Shepparton Line
The Commonwealth will also provide
$30 million towards a Melbourne Airport rail link, as announced in the
recent Budget. We ask the Andrews Government to constructively partner
with us on the completion of the business plan, providing access to
information and officials so that we can get on with this long-overdue
project.
The Premier made the disappointing decision to cancel the East West
Link, wasting over $1 billion. While Victorians have been left without a
road, the Victorian Government is holding approximately $70 million in
interest earned from the Commonwealth's $1.5 billion prepayment for the
East West Link.
This $70 million could be immediately deployed to upgrade suburban roads
and congestion points. We look forward to working with the Andrews
Government to agree priority projects for investment.
We remain committed to the East West Link, and will provide $3 billion
to any Victorian Government to deliver this vital project.
These commitments take the total amount of Commonwealth funding
available for Victorian projects to $4.5 billion, a significant
investment to cut travel times, create jobs and make life better for
more Victorians. Over 19 per cent of total current Commonwealth
infrastructure funding is available to Victoria.
Further funding is available for metro and regional rail in Victoria
under the $10 billion transformational National Rail Program announced
in the recent Federal Budget. Victoria will also significantly benefit
from the once in a generation $8.4 billion Inland Rail project between
Brisbane and Melbourne.
We are building the roads and rail to ensure that Victoria has the top
quality infrastructure it deserves, particularly to grow the regions and
improve the liveability of Melbourne.
Today's announcement provides an additional $509 million on top of our
$1 billion commitment to Victorian infrastructure announced in the
Budget, and builds on the Commonwealth's existing investments in
Victoria. This includes $500 million for the Western Highway, $200
million for the Tullamarine Freeway Widening, and the $1.5 billion
infrastructure package announced in November 2016 incorporating:
-
$500 million to upgrade the Monash Freeway;
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$350 million to complete the M80 Ring Road upgrades;
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$220 million for Murray Basin freight Rail;
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$345 million for a Rural and Regional Roads Package; and
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$85 million for an Urban Congestion Package.
The Turnbull Government is
determined to deliver the road and rail projects to set the state up for
future decades.
Victorians deserve quality roads and rail projects. My Government will
deliver them.
--ENDS--
Source: Australian Government - www.minister.infrastructure.gov.au
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