By Luke Voogt
State Government is “dragging the chain” on matching $2 billion for Geelong fast trains, according to Victorian Opposition Leader Michael O’Brien.
Mr O’Brien accused Premier Daniel Andrews of failing to “pull his weight” by matching the amount that Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced last Friday.
But Transport Infrastructure Minister Jacinta Allan hit back this week stating the project could cost more than triple the amount Mr Morrison was suggesting.
The stoush comes after Mr Morrison dodged protesters to announce commonwealth funding for a 32-minute train from Geelong to Melbourne.
“The train never leaves the station unless people get on board and it starts moving, and that’s what we’re doing here today,” he said on Friday.
Mr O’Brien urged State Government to match the funding to deliver Australia’s first high-speed rail service and ease congestion on the “unreliable” Geelong line.
“Daniel Andrews must get on board with this vital investment into high-speed rail for Geelong,” he said.
“Both the Federal Government and the local councils are on board with this critical investment into fast rail for Geelong.
“It’s only Daniel Andrews and Labor who are dragging the chain on making this commitment become a reality.”
The fast train would help ease congestion on Princes Fwy and the West Gate Bridge, which had “struggled to keep up with unmanaged population growth”, Mr O’Brien said.
“Daniel Andrews just needs to sign up and pull his weight.”
But the commitment would fall well short of the amount required for fast trains from Geelong to Melbourne, Ms Allan said.
“The funding put up by the Prime Minister won’t deliver what he’s promising – we know this because we are already doing the planning work.
“We won’t take lectures from Liberals, who built nothing when they had the chance and took a plan for fast rail to the election that Victorians knew was a dud.
“If they want to help deliver fast rail to Geelong they should immediately fund their share of the Waurn Ponds duplication project, the investment that is needed and is ready to go right now.”
State Government planning shows Geelong fast rail would cost between $10 and $15 billion, compared to the $4 billion in combined state and commonwealth funding Mr Morrison suggested.
The project would require the removal of 14 level crossings on the existing Geelong-Melbourne line, which would cost $2 billion alone, a government spokesperson said.
State Labor pledged $150 million to plan regional fast rail last year, including $100 million in the lead up to last November’s election.
